148 THE BEAKED CHiETODON, 



under the object. Then putting its body in an 

 oblique direction, with the mouth and eyes near the 

 surface, it remains a moment immoveable. Hav- 

 ing fixed its eyes directly on the insect, it shoots at 

 it a drop of water from its tubular snout, but with- 

 out showing its mouth above the surface, from 

 whence only the drop seems to rise. This is done 

 with so much dexterity that, though at the distance 

 of four, five, or six feet, it very seldom fails to 

 bring the fly into the water. With the closest at- 

 tention the mouth could never be discovered above 

 the surface, although the fish has been seen to eject 

 several drops, one after another, without leaving the 

 place, or in the smallest apparent degree moving its 

 body. 



This very singular action was reported to M. 

 Hommel, the governor of the hospital at Batavia, 

 near which place the species is sometimes found ; 

 and so far raised his curiosity that he was deter- 

 mined, if possible, to convince himself of its truth by 

 ocular demonstration. 



For this purpose he ordered a large wide tub to 

 be filled with sea-water ; he then had some of these 

 fish caught and put into it, and the water was 

 changed every other day. After a while they seem- 

 ed reconciled to their confinement ; and he then 

 tried the experiment. A slender stick, with a fly 

 fastened at the end, was placed in such a manner 

 on the side of the vessel, as to enable the fish to 

 strike it : and it was not without expressible de- 

 light that he daily saw them exercising their skill in 



