382 Storer on the 
uniform brown; fin membranes darker; under sur- 
face of the iow. ventral, and pectoral fins while j 
tail dark brown, almost black.” 
By the motion of the filaments with which the 
head of this species is furnished, it is supposed to 
allure within its reach smaller species upon which 
it voraciously feeds. That it however sometimes 
seizes large and powerful fishes, we learn from Pen- 
nant, who says it is so highly regarded by the fish- 
ermen on the coast of Scarborough, being supposed 
by them to be a great enemy of the dog fish, that it 
is set at liberty whenever taken: and he adds ina 
note, *the bodies of these fierce and voracious fish 
are often found in the stomach of the Fishing frog." 
CHIRONECTES. Cuv. 
Generic characters. Four rays on the head, as in 
Lophius; the first of which is slender, and fre- 
quently terminating in a tuft; the succeeding ones, 
augmented by a membrane, are sometimes much 
enlarged, and at others, united into a fin. The 
body and head are compressed ; the mouth cleft ver- 
tically: the only opening of the branchia, which 
are furnished with four rays, is a canal, and a 
small hole behind the pectorals ; the dorsal occupies 
nearly the whole length of the back. The entire 
body is frequently provided with cutaneous append- 
ages ; there are four branchie ; the natatory bladder 
is large, and the intestine moderate, and without 
coeca. These fishes, by filling their enormous stom- 
achs with air, are enabled to expand their belly like 
