GILL] LIFE HISTORIES OF TOADFISHES 393 
environments, a sharp eye can detect it. An early observer (Ayres 
with Storer in 1853) gave quite a graphic account of observations 
in Massachusetts of one of several conditions. ‘Examining the 
places where the water is but a few inches in depth at low tide, 
we see that under many of the stones and smaller rocks the sand 
on one side has been removed, leaving a shallow cavity, perhaps a 
foot in width, and extending back beneath the stone. If we ap- 
proach this cautiously, we shall probably distinguish the head of a 
toadfish very much in the position of that of a dog as he lies 
looking out of his kennel. The fish is at rest and might be over- 
looked by a careless observer; a closer attention, however, readily 
distinguishes the curve of its broad mouth and delicately laciniated 
tentacles with which its jaws and other parts of its head are orna- 
mented. Its eyes, and sometimes the anterior portion of its body, 
are truly beautiful. At the slightest alarm it retreats beneath the’ 
stone, but presently reappears; it is lying here merely as in a safe 
resting place, perhaps on the watch for its prey.” 
When at rest, its attitude is quite characteristic; its head is some- 
what tilted, sometimes supported by a stone, a sloping decline of 
sand or: mud, or, it may be, on the body of a companion. The fins, 
unlike those of most fishes, are often maintained erect, the first as 
well as second dorsal being completely upraised, while the caudal 
may be almost folded; the pectorals are near the sides but with the 
lower edges everted and borne on the ground; a slow movement of 
inspiration and expiration is kept up, the jaws being very slightly 
open and moved, and the gill-membranes slightly puffing and col- 
lapsing in harmony; otherwise the fish is motionless. Different in- 
dividuals, however, may assume very diversiform attitudes, and 
some coil themselves up so that the tail touches the gills or, may be, 
is tucked under a pectoral fin. Where many are together, they may 
congregate in a heap in some retired nook. The eyes present 
rather a remarkable appearance, the pupils changing from greenish 
to bluish or blackish, according to the incidence of light, and the 
irises are traversed by St. Andrew’s crosses. The element of beauty 
in such must be a matter of opinion. In contrast with Ayres, Baird 
thought that “few fishes are more repulsive in appearance” on 
account of “the laciniated processes or fringes about the jaw, 
goggle eyes, and slimy body.” 
The crowding together of many individuals just alluded to is a 
characteristic habit in aquaria at least. The toadfish is not a school- 
ing or social animal as generally understood but there are very 
few others who will associate as closely as it does. All the fishes 
