An anecdotal account of some Queer Inhabitants of the Seas—fish that walk, fish that talk, fish that fly, fish 
that climb, fish that bury themselves and fish that are drowned if they stay im the water too long. 
By W. SAvimmE=Ken2) BUS) ZS: 
ISHES are generally esteemed to be the least intelligent and least physically 
accomplished groups of the higher or vertebrated animals, and saddled by these 
negations to be the least worthy of interest and attention. The class is undoubtedly 
much maligned in this direction and has a distinct grievance to ventilate. Through 
a small and select deputation it craves leaye im this article to submit evidence that 
should go some way towards establishing its just claim for more liberal consideration. 
To float supinely, scull themselves more or less rapidly through their native 
element in pursuit of food or to le recumbent in wait for it at the bottom of the 
water represents by no means the sum total of piscine attributes. The one brilhant 
exception to prove the rule that is commonly cited as rising above the dead level 
of its finny brethren is the well-known flying fish, a modified Herring, with abnormally 
long wing-like fins. There are, however, other fish not only equally gifted but in which 
are combined the two unfish-like accomplishments of both flying and walking. The 
Gurnard Family, of which there are sundry British species, is a notable group with 
reference to the above diverse talents. 
To appreciate the full measure of the liberal endowments of the Gurnard the 
fish should be seen under its most favourable living conditions. The gaudily tinted 
wing-like fins correspond in shape and vie in brilliancy with the wings of the gay 
insects from which the last-named species takes its name. Certain of the tropical 
Gurnards do moreover rise and skim through the air above the surface of the water 
with their large painted fins after the manner of the typical flyimg-fish. Watched a 
little more closely it will be found that the British species possesses an equally mteresting 
and remarkable accomplishment. A certain number, three on each side, of the bony 
rays belonging anatomically to the organisation of the wimg-like fins are separated off 
and independently moveable. With their aid the Gurnard literally walks with celerity 
and ease along the ground in the tank or at the bottom of the sea. It is under these 
circumstances a veritable hexapod, the insect-like simile previously cited beimg thus 
further strengthened. The gift of speech, or at any rate, of uttering audible sounds, 
has been recorded of various species, and on this account they have been locally named 
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