COMMON ANGLER. 
visible : the curiosity of the smaller fish soon 
prompts them to approach and view these fila- 
ments ; when, their hunger inducing ihem to 
seize the bait^ the ambushed Angler instanta- 
neously draws in it's appendage, with the 
adhering little fish, which is thus precipitated 
into it's enormous mouth, and greedily de- 
voured. 
This account, however improbable it may 
appear, has gained credit among some of our 
most distinguished naturalists ; who, perhaps, 
have not sufficiently refle6led that, from the 
multitude of fables blended with the fa^s of 
that naturalist, he is entitled but to a small de- 
gree of credit, where credulity seems called 
for, unless supported by some less doubtful 
authority. 
On this occasion, say some naturalists, a 
strong presumption seems to oppose what is 
asserted by Pliny : since, it is well known that 
there Is one species of this fish destitute of these 
filaments ; which, they add, it certainly would 
not want, were they necessary to the existence 
of the kind. 
But, 
