The Angler. 359 



is possessed by other nerves that are altogether insensible to 

 such, or any other conscious sensations. 



And again, there exist creatures which, to all appearance, are 

 guided by strong powers of reason in their animal actions, whose 

 brains are vastly smaller in absolute size than that of the angler. 

 The weight of the brain of the bulky fish and of the bird may 

 therefore be the same ; but we know that their form, extent of 

 surface, and arrangement of parts, are different ; and it is pro- 

 bable that the internal structure of the lobes is still more so — 

 as we know further is the expansion and arrangement of the 

 nerves of the external development of the organs of sensa- 

 tion — in which last particular, indeed, this fish excels a large 

 number of the other inhabitants of the sea. The eyes are di- 

 rected towards the sides, so that they cannot, as in the case of 

 the skulpins and other flat-headed stargazing fishes, be brought 

 to bear together on a single object ; and such is the size of the 

 crystalline lens that, with its strictly globular form, and its po- 

 sition on the posterior part of the chamber of the eye, close to 

 the retina, or nerve of sight, objects at a moderate distance 

 can scarcely be discerned ; but it is here that the special func- 

 tion is displayed of a particular muscle of the interior of the eye, 

 first described by Mr. D airy m pie, and known to exist in some 

 other fishes. Its influence is to draw back, as that of the ex- 

 ternal director muscles is to press forward, the crystalline lens, 

 that by modifying the angle at which the rays of light cross each 

 other, and so enable the fish to discern more clearly at varying 

 distances. There is reason to believe also, that the iris of the 

 eye is furnished with muscular fibres, by which the quantity of 

 light which passes inward to the nerve of sight may be regu- 

 lated; and how necessary this must be to the varying habits 

 of the fish will presently be seen. In common with some other 

 kindred fishes, the angler is able to move its eyes in various 

 directions, and it is probable that this is effected by each one 

 independent of the other, as is certainly the case with the blen- 

 nies. From the appearance of lines or stripes on the iris of 

 the eye, there seems reason to suppose also that the organ is 

 capable of contraction and expansion ; by which means the eye 

 may be fitted to the varying degrees of light as it exists near 

 the bottom or at the surface of the sea. This fish is retentive 

 of life, so that when the skin has been kept moist, it has been 

 known to live out of its proper element several days. 



It is known that the race of this fish is continued by means 

 of spawn, as in other bony fishes; but much obscurity has 

 existed in regard to the early stages of its growth ; and from 

 the observations of Dr. Giinther, in the Annals and Magazine 

 of Natural History for 1861, there appears to be a foundation 

 for the supposition that in its young condition it possesses a 



