Chap. X.] THE CHEIRONECTES. 



331 



probably represent the creature to which the informants 

 of iElian referred. It is a cheironectes ; one of a group 

 in which the bones of the carpus form arms that support 

 the pectoral fins, and enable these fishes to walk along 

 the moist ground, almost like quadrupeds. 



They belong to the family of Lophiads or " anglers/' 

 not unfrequent on the English coast; which conceal 



CHEIEONECTES. 



themselves in the mud, displaying only the erectile 

 ray, situated on the head, which bears an excrescence 

 on its extremity resembling a worm; by agitating 

 which, they attract the smaller fishes, that thus become 

 an easy prey. 



On the rocks in Ceylon which are washed by the surf 



