FISHES. 219 



often found off the coasts of England. It is the only fish 

 that is as yet known to have a prehensile tail. It has 

 been found in the Hudson River of this country, about 

 five or six inches in length. 

 371. The Lophius, or Fishing Frog, Fig. 172, appears 



Fig. 172. The Lophius, or Fishing Frog. 



on all the European coasts, and also on our own. With 

 its pectoral fins it can crawl on land. The voracity of 

 this fish is very great, and if caught in a net with other 

 fish it will devour some of its fellow-prisoners. Its usual 

 mode of capturing its prey is this. Crouching close to 

 the bottom, and stirring up the mud and sand, it moves 

 about the long filaments; the small fishes, swimming 

 about, suppose these filaments to be worms, and as they 

 are about to seize them, the Angler, with a quick move- 

 ment, takes them into his capacious jaws. 



372. The Sturgeon, Fig. 173 (p. 220), although one 

 of the cartilaginous fishes, has externally rows of bony 

 plates. It is very common in the northern parts of Eu- 

 rope, where there are regular fisheries for its capture. 

 Almost every part of it is used isinglass being obtained 

 from its air-bladder, and caviar from the roe, while the 

 flesh is consumed both in a fresh and a salted state. It 

 is much esteemed as food, eaten fresh, in the Atlantic 



