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THE SEA LOCUST. 



tropical seas, extending as far north as the Mediterranean, and to the Atlantic shores of 

 Northei-n America. 



The general color is brownish-red, marbled with dark brown and dotted with black. 

 In some individuals the dots are arranged in lines around the dark marblings. 



The extraordinary creature which is known by the name of Red Fire-fish, and to the 

 natives of Ceylon by the title of Gini-maha, inhabits the greater jDart of the tropical seas, 

 from Eastern Africa, through the Indian seas, to Australia. 



This fish is remarl^able for the singular development of the dorsal and pectoml fins, the 

 latter being of such vast proportionate size, that they were formerly supposed to act like the 



SPOTTED SCORPION-FISH.— Saw/Kswa porais. 



corresponding organs in the flying fish, and to raise the creature out of the water into the air. 

 Such, however, is not the case ; for the rays which carry the connecting membrane are not 

 supported by a corresponding strength of bone as in the true flying fishes, and are far too 

 weak to serve that purpose. Indeed, the object of this remarkable development is one of the 

 many mysteries with which the inquiring zoologist is surrounded, and which make his task so 

 exhaustlessly fascinating. 



The structure of the entire skeleton is very interesting to comparative anatomists, 

 but is too complicated, and requires too many technical terms to be described in these 

 pages. 



The Red Fire-fish is common ofi' the Ceylonese coast, and is said to be rather valuable as 

 an article of food, its flesh being very white, firm, and nutritious. The native fishermen hold 

 this species in some dread, thinking that it can inflict an incurable wound ^vith the sharp 

 spines which aim its person and stand out so boldly in every direction. This idea, however, 

 is vsdthout any foundation ; for, although the thorny spines may prick the hand deeply and 

 painfully, they carry no i)oison, and inflict no venomed hurt. 



One or two notable fishes require a cursory notice. 



The Sea Locust {Apistos israelitdrum) is a native of the Red Sea, and is remarkable as 

 being tlie only flying-fish of those strange waters. It is particularly plentiful on that part of 

 the coast near which the Isi-aelites were forced to wander for a sjjace of forty years, and on 

 that account has received its specific title. Ehrenberg has noticed that it is very abundant 

 near Tor, and that several specimens fell into his boat almost every time that the sea was 

 agitated. He further throws out a suggestion, that the quails to which allusion is made in the 



