Marvels of the Universe 



409 



the calvx. There are no petals. At the bottom of the cup there are five cavities of a bright yellow 

 colour, which are filled with a sweet fluid which is said to have the flavour of toast and water. This, 

 no doubt, is to make a palatable drink for some insect whose services are required for carrying the 

 poUen from flower to flower, and so to help in the fertilization of the future seeds. 



THE ARCHER-FISH 



BY W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S. 



The Archer-Fish well deserves its place among the marvels of Nature, for it is the only creature 

 save man which brings down its prey by shooting ! Further, it has this advantage over man, that 



PLESIOSAURS OF THE UPPER LIAS. 



In this picture Prof. Fraas has restored the probable life appearance of the Plesiosaur whose 



shown on the opposite page. 



l/iy I'lVJ. A'. Frcuii. 

 fossil skeleton is 



its supply of ammunition is inexhaustible. Briefly, it lives largely on insects which haunt the 

 margins of streams and rest on leaves and twigs overhanging the water. Prowling along at the 

 surface of the stream, the hungry and eager fish sooner or later marks down a luscious-looking 

 fly, and then, with careful aim, brings it down with a drop of water squirted from its 

 tubular mouth. 



The Malays set great store by the Archer-Fish on account of the entertainment which it 

 affords them. They call it the " Ikan Sumpit," and keep it in small aquaria the more easily to 

 watch its wonderful marksmanship. 



How did the Archer-Fish discover its ability to shoot ? Another remarkable feature of this 

 strange phenomenon is the fact that the fish can see its prey sufficiently clearly to enable it to aim 

 surely, for it must be remembered that the eyes of fishes are adapted to see clearly only under water. 

 Thus we must assume that the eyes of the Archer-Fish differ from those of other fish. That this is 



