54 MR. F. DAT ON THE 



examine or seize them, immediately become the prey of the fishes 

 (Tarrell). The Weaver (Trachinus vipera) buries itself in the 

 sands, leaving only its nose out, and if trod on immediately 

 strikes with great force ; and we have seen them direct their 

 blows with as much judgment as fighting-cocks*. The Conger- 

 Eel {Conger vulgaris), remarks Couch, is able to insinuate the 

 point of its tail through a crevice and so dilate it as to obtain a 

 passage for its body by a retrograde action ; or if that cannot be 

 accomplished, it will examine by its powers of sensation, draw 

 itself along, and, using the tail as a fixed point, elevate its body 

 as a lever and lift itself over any opposing obstacle of considerable 

 height ; so that neither the Eel (Anguilla) nor the Conger can be 

 confined within a limited space when their inclinations prompt 

 them to wander from it. 



The Jaculator-fish (Chelmon rostratus) frequents shores and 

 sides of rivers near the sea in Asia in search of food. When 

 it sees a fly sitting on the plants that grow in shallow water it 

 swims to the distance of 4, 5, or 6 feet, and then, with surprising 

 dexterity, it ejects out of its long and tubular mouth a single drop 

 of water, which never fails striking the fly into the sea, when it 

 becomes its prey. This aroused Governor Hommel's curiosity, 

 and he had a large tub filled with sea-water, in which he placed 

 some of these fish. When they were reconciled to their situation, 

 a slender stick with a fly pinned on its end was placed in such a 

 direction on the side of the vessel that the fish could strike it. It 

 was with inexpressible delight that he daily saw these fish exer- 

 cising their skill in shooting at a fly ; and they never missed their 

 mark. Pallas continued this account from Governor Hommel's 

 letters two years subsequently, remarking that when the Jacu- 

 lator-fish intends to catch a fly or any other insect which is seen 

 at a distance, it approaches very slowly and cautiously, and comes 

 as much as possible perpendicularly under the object ; then the 

 body being put in an oblique situation, and the mouth and eyes 

 being near the surface of the water, the Jaculator stays a moment 

 quite immovable, having its eyes fixed directly on the insect, and 

 then begins to shoot without ever showing its mouth above the 

 surface of the water, out of which the single drop shot at the object 

 seems to rise. With the closest attention, Governor Hommel 

 never could see any part of the mouth out of the water, though 



* Pennant's « Brit. Zool.' iii. p. 170. 



