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TRE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. LIII 



Holmwood's interesting account is however not the 

 first for the use of tlie living fish-hook in Mozambique 

 waters. In the year 1829 Lacepede published his ''His- 

 toire Naturelle des Poissons," in which, with reference 

 to foreign fishes, he largely made use of the manuscripts 

 of the lamented naturalist, C^ommerson. On page 490 of 

 Tome III we read: 



qii^nN^.M-v often thfyoa^t of Mozanibi<ino, and tliat near to thisloasr 

 tlicni. we llunk that we ought to report here the (hxta which Comnrier- 



.uKxunilx l.n-e not to incommode the fi^h. and small enou-h to be re- 

 tained by the caudal fin. A very long cord is attached to this ring. 

 When the Kclieneis has been thus prepared, it is placed in a vessel full 



tliK. in their boat-^. They then saif towards those regions frequented by 



of the water on which they tloat, and their sleep is so lio^ht tliat tlie least 



cau^e lliem to Are to great distances or to plunge to uu-.u drptl . li,.! 

 behold the snare which they set from afar for the fiist im tlr wliidi thrv 



its long cord. The anL/al, delivered in i)art IVoni iis cnpiiMiy. seeks to 

 however, perceiving that its efforts are m vain, and that it cannot free 



