THE SPOTTED SCORPION-FISH. 231 



OTHER SCALE-FINNED FISHES. 



Of another group or sub-family of the scale-finued fishes the Archer Fish is a good 

 example. It is depicted on the accompanying full-page illustration. 



This curious species is a native of the East Indian and Polynesian seas, and possesses the 

 power of shooting water at its prey %Tith even more force than the beaked chsetodon. So 

 powerful, indeed, is the projectile force, and so marvellously accurate is the aim, that it will 

 strike a fly with certainty at a distance of three or even four feet. In general appearance, 

 there is little to attract attention about this fish, the only remarkable point in its form being 

 the greatly elongated lower jaw, which may possibly aid it in directing the liquid missile, on 

 which it partially depends for its subsistence as does a hunter on the accuracy of his rifle. 

 The general color of the Archer Fish is greenish, and the short, wide bands across the back 

 are dark brown wdth a shade of green. Two s]3ecies of this genus are known. 



As an example of the next family, the Cirrhitidse, we take the Banbed Chilodactyle. 

 The family to which this fish belongs is a very small one, containing only eight genera, none 

 of which comprise many species. Altogether, this family is not larger than many single 

 genera. Tlie members of which it is composed are all exotic species, inhabiting the ' ' seas of 

 the tropical regions and the southern temperate parts of the Pacific." 



Perplexing as is the task of ascertaining the habitation of migrating birds, the difficulty 

 of fixing the range of fishes is far less easy to overcome, as the transition from the tropical to 

 the temperate, and from them to the colder seas, is so extremely gentle, that a fish of errant 

 disposition, or one that has been caught in a long-lasting storm might be, and has been often, 

 di'iven into strange waters which it does not know, and from which it can find no retreat. 



The large and important family of the Triglidse, or Gurnards, is represented by several 

 European fishes. This family contains a great number of species, many of which are most 

 remarkable, not only for their beautiful colors, which alone are sufficient to attract attention, 

 but also for the strange and ^\'ild shape, and large development of the fins. They are carniv- 

 orous fish, mostly inhabiting the seas, a very few species being able to exist in fresh water. 

 They are not swift or strong swimmers, and therefore remain, for the most part, in deep water. 

 Some, however, are able, by means of their largely developed pectoral fins, to raise themselves 

 into the air, and for a brief sjiace to sustain themselves in the tliinner element. The mouth is 

 mostly large ; and in some cases the gape is so wide, and the head and jaws so strangely 

 shaped, that the general aspect is most repulsive. 



On account of its fiery color and ungainly aspect, the Red Scorpion-fish has long been 

 supposed to possess qualities as dangerous as its appearance is repulsive, and has been termed 

 the Sea Scoepion and Sea Devil, from the supposed venom of its spines and frowardness 

 of its temper. It is, however, a harmless fish enough, not capable of inflicting such severe 

 injuries as several species that have already been described. When captured, it certainly 

 plunges and struggles violently, in its endeavors to escape, and if handled incautiously it will 

 probably inflict some painful injuries with its bony spears. This result, however, is attribu- 

 table to the carelessness of the captor and to the natural desire for liberty, and not to any 

 malevolent propensities innate in its being. 



Another species, the Spotted Scorpion-fish {Scorpwna porctis), represented in the 

 fine engraving on next page, has similar habits. Both these fish are extremely voracious, 

 as may be infen-ed from their wide mouth and general aspect, feeding on the smaller 

 fish and similar creatures. They have a habit of lying in ambush, under overhanging tufts 

 of sea-weed, and thence issuing in chase of any unfortunate little fish that may happen 

 to pass near the fatal spot. All the fish of this genus are remarkable for their large head, 

 with its armature of spines and odd skinny flaps, and the curious naked groove that runs 

 along its summit. The pectoral fins are always large and rounded, and the body is mostly 

 decorated with sundry skinny appendages. Examples of this genus are found in all the 



