44 
REVISION OF THE 
without bony stay ; posttemporal small and undivided, ankylosed to 
the skull ; tail diphycercal. Vertebrae 27 to 43, the precaudal 
without distinct transverse processes. [fidrpaxos, a frog; eiSos, 
resemblance]. 
The Batraclwididce form a small but distinct family, related on 
the one hand to the Blenniidce and on the other to the Congrogadidce. 
They may be briefly described as — carnivorous ground-fishes of small 
or moderate size, inhabiting all intertropical and juxtatropical seas. 
Most of the species show a marked partiality for muddy ground, 
into which they burrow with great facility when danger threatens. 
They are for the most part litoral fishes, and even to some extent 
ascend tidal rivers, but many instances are on record of their capture 
at depths closely approaching the hundred-fathoms line. While not 
disdaining aught else, which chance may put in their way, their 
principal food consists of crustaceans and mollusks, the hard 
integuments of which their exceptional strength of jaw enables them 
to crush with ease. Like all other fishes in which the powers of 
locomotion are limited, they are compelled to resort to strategy in 
order to obtain in sufficient quantity even this comparatively slow- 
moving prey ; they are, therefore, in the habit of burying themselves 
in the mud leaving only a part of the head exposed, and possibly 
using the oral and supraciliary tentacles as lures for the unwary, 
much in the same manner as the angler-fishes (Antennariidce) employ 
the rostral tentacle. When living on ground into which they are 
unable to burrow weeds serve the same purpose of concealment, and 
in either case the normal pattern of their coloration blends so 
thoroughly with their surroundings that detection is extremely 
difficult so long as they remain motionless. A very curious habit is 
mentioned by Gilbert — than whom no more acute and trustworthy 
observer ever lived — when writing of one of our common Queensland 
species (Coryziclithys diemensis) . He states that it — " is an inhabitant 
of the mud at the head of the harbor of Port Essington, where it 
may be frequently seen creeping over the surface after the tide has 
left. It is very difficult to capture, for on the slightest appearance 
of danger it plunges down instantaneously" (Richardson, Ann. Sf 
Mag. Nat. Jlist., $i, 1843, p. 352). Though the flesh is firm, white, 
and to all appearance tempting to the palate, these fishes are 
rejected as food by all except the very poorest classes ; it is probable 
that their rather repulsive appearance may be to a large extent 
responsible for this repugnance ; personally I have had no oppor- 
tunity of testing their quality, but I am not aware of any practical 
reason why they should not be excellent eating. The ova of the 
frog-fishes are large, round, and few in number ; they are probably 
attached either singly or in bunches to weeds or stones at the bottom, 
