360 THE OCEAN. 
form and delicate pencillings the wings of a butter- 
fly, take momentary flights above the surface; and 
the petty tribe of Chetodons, several of which are 
noted for the singular habit of shooting flies with 
a drop of water projected from their beak-like 
mouths, fearlessly approach the hand immersed in 
the water. But none of these are more curious than 
the Toad-fishes, or Anglers (Antennarius), whose 
pectoral and ventral fins have much of the form and 
also the functions of the feet of a quadruped, en- 
abling them to crawl out of the water, and travel 
over the land. The head is armed with horn-like’ 
projections, terminating in shining filaments, which 
play freely in the water, and attract small fishes 
within the reach of its enormous mouth; a very 
remarkable instance of the superintending care exer- 
cised by the beneficent Creator over the well-being of 
his creatures. The form of the fish is clumsy, and 
its motions slow and heavy, and without this provi- 
sion for the attraction of its prey, it would probably 
fare but poorly. 
It is doubtless a species of Antennarius that is 
thus described by Mr. Harl, as observed on the coast 
of Borneo: “Large tracts of mud had been left 
uncovered by the receding tide, and flocks of gulls 
and other birds were feeding on the worms and small 
fish. Vast numbers of little amphibious creatures 
were running about in the mud, and they appeared 
to be sought after by some of the larger birds. 
They were from two to eight inches long, resem- 
bling a fish in shape, of a light-brown colour, and 
could run and jump by means of two strong pectoral 
