COMMON ANGLER. 
The head of the Common Angler, which Is 
considerably larger than the full extent of the 
whole body, is round at the circumference, 
and flat above ; and the mouth is sometimes a 
yard wide. The under jaw is longer tlian the 
upper, and both are well armed with slender 
sharp teeth. In the roof of the mouth, there 
arc also two or three rows of similar teeth ; 
and, at the root of the tongue, are two ellipti- 
cal bones, opposite each other, both likewise 
thickly set with very sharp teeth. The nos- 
trils have no external orifice ; but there are 
two large internal apertures in the upper part 
of the mouth, which supply their place. On 
each side of the upper jaw, are two sharp 
spines ; and there are several others scattered 
over the upper surface of the head. Exadtly 
above the snout, there are two long tough fila- 
ments; and, on the back, there are three 
more. To these filaments, Pliny gives the 
name of corniculne ; asserting, that the animal 
makes use of them to attra6l small fish. With 
these extended, according to this author, the 
Common Angler, thus named from the cir- 
cumstance, conceals itself in muddy waters, 
leaving only these corniculae, or beards, 
visible ; 
