GILL] LIFE HISTORIES OF TOADFISHES 395 
encouraged.” From Stearn’s observations, it appears that “it se- 
cures its food rather by strategy and stealth than by swiftness of 
motion ; hiding under or behind stones, rocks or weeds, or, stealing 
from one cover to another, it watches its victim until the latter is 
near by, when it darts forth with a quickness quite astonishing, 
considering its usual sluggishness, and back again to its hiding 
place, having one or more fish in its stomach and alert for others.” 
A number of individuals were dissected by E. Linton at Woods 
Hole (1901) as well as at Beaufort, N. C. (1905), and various 
shells and crustaceans were the principal contents. The univalve 
shells were mostly such as had been appropriated by hermit crabs 
for their own use, and the crustaceans, besides such hermit crabs, 
were shrimps (Palemonetes vulgaris, etc.) and true crabs of various 
species ; other univalve shells (such as J/yanassa, Urosalpinx, Cre pi- 
dula, etc.) and bivalves, especially scallops (Pecten irradians), had 
evidently been swallowed for the mollusks. Remains and fragments 
of fishes also were found and among them “‘a partly digested toad- 
fish.” A still more decided case of cannibalism fell under Linton’s 
observation, for he had “seen a toadfish in the aquarium in the 
act of swallowing another of its own species but little smaller than 
itself.” Sea-urchins (Arbacia) were also found in several fishes, 
and in one “no entozoa were found,” and it appeared to Linton 
“that the diet of sea-urchins had in this case acted as an anthel- 
mintic.” 
The strength of the jaws is wonderful in a fish of its size, although 
it rarely tries to bite unless provoked to do so. If, however, it 
is incautiously or roughly handled it will snap “at the finger, even 
when almost dried up,” according to Baird. He aptly adds, “it is 
capable of inflicting quite a severe bite, and is always handled with a 
great deal of caution.” One who is bitten by a large fish will not 
soon forget the impression left on him—the writer has had expe- 
rience and speaks from feeling. There is, however, individual or 
environmental difference between toadfishes, and even the same 
fish may manifest difference of moods. Goode’s experience was 
quite different from the present writer’s, for he found (1884) that 
“when touched they show no disposition to bite, but erect their 
opercular spines in a very threatening manner.” 
A certain power of utterance is exercised when they are taken 
from the water for sometimes, when handled, they utter a loud 
croaking noise. But this power is also manifested in the water 
of their own volition, and has even obtained a distinctive name for 
the fish. 
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