Fishes. 1609 



thrown up during the excavation falling all around and over its back. 

 Thus hid from view, the long tendrils which arise from the back of 

 the head are elevated, and their worm-like terminations are moved 

 gently about, either at will or by the motion of the tide. This vermi- 

 cular appearance deceives those small fish which may be passing, but 

 no sooner do they bite, than by the aid of its large and powerful pec- 

 toral fins, the " fishing frog" starts from its hiding place and engulphs 

 its unsuspecting prey. Another plan is sometimes pursued, if the soil 

 be not sandy, but what is called by the fishermen " rough ground," 

 the fishing frog lies at the bottom as if dead ; and this appearance is 

 greatly increased, by its soft and semi-decomposed appearance. In 

 this position it lies, and the dorsal tendrils float carelessly about, and 

 the numerous filaments which surround the lower jaw act as so many 

 decoys for the smaller fish. If hungry, the fishermen inform me, 

 the tendrils are no sooner touched than the victim is caught ; but that 

 at other times, they will wait till several victims are assembled, when 

 they are all caught together. The dorsal tendrils have each a bony 

 centre running through their whole length. The first is articulated at 

 its base by a chain joint, the second by a triangular one. These, as 

 well as the labial filaments, are well supplied with nerves from the 

 same source as the muscles of the jaw; hence, there is an unity estab- 

 lished between the sensation of one and the action of the other. But 

 though it thus exercises a great deal of cunning in capturing its prey, 

 yet it is by no means an intelligent fish. Whether it is that the vo- 

 racity of its appetite demands a larger supply than its stratagems can 

 command, or that it is the effect of mere stupidity, it is by no means 

 particular as to what it seizes. I have heard it said, that one rose to 

 the surface and attempted to swallow the red " barrel buoy " of a pil- 

 chard-seine ; and one, a few years since, swallowed the white-washed 

 cork buoy of a crab-pot, and from its being unable to sink again with 

 it, became strangled, and was so caught. The tales told by fisher- 

 men of its voracity and stupidity, though no doubt exaggerated, are 

 in some measure confirmed by what I have seen myself. It frequently 

 rises to the surface of the water in the summer and autumn, and lies 

 basking in the sun. It varies in length to about four feet ; the sexes 

 are distinguished, as in the rays, by the secondary characters. 



Common Wrasse Conner, Labrus Balanus. Common, around the 

 rocks near the shore among sea-weed. It feeds on small Crustacea 

 and worms. It takes a worm-bait readily, and affords excellent sport 

 to boys fishing from the rocks. The largest fish always remain the 

 lords of their respective districts, and the smaller ones rarely intrude 

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