ON THE OUTER REEF. 63 



Dick ; " what under the sun — or rather under 

 the coral — is it ? " 



The doctor stooped down and examined it. 

 " You are right, Dick ; this is a curious fellow, 

 indeed ! " he said. " The fish is called the Mai- 

 ihcea. It has, as you see, no fins for swimming, 

 but is provided with short feet, like paddles, 

 with which it moves over the muddy bottom in 

 which it lives." 



"He's lazy enough," said Dick, as the fish, 

 even when touched, showed but small desire to 

 move. 



" It is one of the sluggish fishes," continued 

 the doctor, " of which there are a number. This 

 one, you will notice, is formed and colored so 

 as to appear like an inanimate substance — a 

 part of the sea-bottom. But here is a singular 

 thing. Do you see here, right over the mouth, a 

 sort of depression or pit, from the roof of which 

 hangs a curiously colored pendant ? " 



The boys, after a careful look, saw it dis- 

 tinctly. 



" Well," said the doctor, " that is the means 

 by which the Malthwa makes up for its slug- 



