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TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The Fishing Frog. — This singular fish has an attenuated tail 

 and enormous mouth, but no force or means of defence; is a slow 

 swimmer, and is, consequently, compelled to procure its subsis- 

 tence by stratagem. It covers itself with mud, sea weed, &c., and 

 agitates by muscular power the filaments of fringe that cover its 

 body. They appear so much like worms, that fish approach 

 boldly to Seize them, when they are swallowed by a single rapid 

 movement of the fishing frog, and pass down his capacious throat 

 with great ease, where they are retained by a multitude of teeth. 

 The stomach of this extraordinary fish, like the Gillaroo trout of 

 Ireland, is endowed with great muscular power, adapting it, like 

 the gizzard of fowls, to perform the two-fold action of digestion 

 and mastication. When they swallow oysters, clams, or other 

 shell fish, they swallow stones likewise, to assist in breaking them 

 up. The common trout has been knoxvn to do this likewise. 



Many fish live altogether on shell fish, which require great 

 power and muscular strength in the jaws, besides strong grinding 

 teeth, to break them down and triturate them sufficiently to be 

 digested; among these may be named, in addition to those men- 

 tioned, the mullet, wolf-fish and sepia. 



The Tetraodo7is. — These fish are peculiar, from the fact that they 

 are provided with the remarkable means ol instantaneously assu- 

 ming the form of a balloon, by swallowing at one gulp an enormous 

 quantity of air. When the abdominal portion becomes light, the 

 body immediately turns over, and the fish floats upon his back, 

 without possessing the least power of locomotion, but is driven 

 about at the mercy of the waves in a state of perfect security, 

 from the fact that his body is thickly covered with sharp spines, 

 which present a formidable front to enemies on all sides. 



This fish is enabled to roll itself on the shore for a considerable 

 distance from the water, showing that a most perfect relation 

 keeps pace with the peculiar circumstances in which different 

 varieties of fish may be placed. Those being weak are studiously 

 protected by a dull integument, covered witli spines, strong enough 

 to guard it from fhe most bold assailant; while the voracious 

 tribes enjoy powerful muscles, to enable them either rapidly to 

 progress towards their prey, or escape their enemies. Asa general 



