450 
VERTEBEATA. 
THE CHIEONECTES HISTRIO. 
ing fisli Avhich shows raucli cunning : it lies close to the ground, muddles the water so as to 
conceal itself, and then vibrates the bony filament which stands erect on its head. The fishes 
see the shining tip, and thinking it something good to eat, advance upon it, and are seized 
by the artful fisherman beneath. On account of this stratagem this fish is called the Angler. 
Its monstrous appearance has also given it the titles of Sea-Devil^ Belloivs-Fish, Goose-Fish,, 
Monk-Fish,, &c. It is not eaten, but when it happens to be captured by fishermen it is preserved 
for the various fishes 
usually found in its ca- 
pacious stomach. It 
is found in European 
and American waters. 
Genus CHIEONEC- 
TES : Chironectes—lo 
this belong nearly thirty 
species of small fishes, 
of which the Gibbous 
Mouse-Fish, C. gihhus, 
is an American ex- 
ample. It is two inches 
long ; color pale brown ; 
common on the Ameri- 
can coast. The C. his- 
trio is a larger species, 
found in Brazil. On 
the northern coasts of 
Australia, there arc fishes of this genus, so abundant and so lively in jumping out of the water, 
that they have been mistaken for flocks of birds. 
Genus BATRACIIUS: Batrachus. — This includes the Common Toad-Fish, B. tau, six to 
twelve inches long ; has an enormous head ; usually lies half buried in the mud, where it either 
silently sucks in small marine animals, or seizes upon such as may incautiously come within its 
reach ; common on our coasts from Maine to Mexico. Its flesh is little prized, but if skillfully 
cooked is very good. Another species 
in our waters is the Two-spined Toad- 
Fish, B. celatus. 
Genus MALTH^A : Malthcea. — 
This includes the Short-nosed Mal- 
THEA, M. nasuta^ six to seven inches 
long. The body is compressed in 
B front, and tapering and compressed 
^ from behind the pectorals. The head 
is prominent and apparently elevated 
above the jaws. The surface is cov- 
ered with scaly discs ; eyes lateral, 
large, and circular ; mouth pi'otractile, 
with minute card-like teeth on the 
jaws; color dull brown. It is a rare 
species, having a range from Labrador 
to the Caribbean Sea. Little is known 
of its habits. The Dotted Malthea, M. notata, is three and a half inches long; found on the 
American coasts. The Bat Malthea, M. vesper tilio, is ten to eighteen inches long, pale grayish- 
brown, snout elongated into a point; skin like shagreen, with long scattering tubercles. It is 
common in the Caribbean Sea, and is found as far north as Newfoundland. There are several 
other species known near the Bahama Islands. 
THE BAT MALTHEA. 
