THE BEAKED GHEE TO DON. 
229 
forms being temporarily disturbed were quickly captured. The party bad secured tbe services 
of a fisbing-crew and their smack. The latter bad tbe usual “well,” which is used to keep 
tbe “fare” of fish alive within while waiting a market. Into this well the fishes, etc., were 
placed. The sea- water playing in and out through the bottom was comparatively pure. After 
securing many specimens of great value, as many as could safely be bestowed, the smack set 
sail for the colder waters of the north. Here in the Florida Straits the sea is, even in winter, 
warmer than that around the northern coast in summer. Some of the choicest specimens and 
duplicates were judiciously placed in glass globes, and kept in the cabin. The almost inevita- 
ble thing happened — the cold water killed everything before the party had reached Hatteras. 
The specimens in the globes were saved, and the £ ‘ only Angel-fish ever exhibited in northern 
waters” was continued a long time a pleasing object to the many visitors of the aquarium, 
and a nearly sole consolation for the loss of the entire cargo of living tropical fishes. One of 
the most beautiful of the objects saved was a peculiar form of Sea- Anemone, which we had 
captive in our own aquarium, and which we added to the New York collection. This_ lived a 
long time, and was a constant source of admiration. It will be described in the proper place 
at the end of this volume. 
The Wahderixg Ciiyetodox is an example of a very large genus, comprising about 
seventy species, all of which are striking from their shape and color. Some of them are 
almost circular or disc-like in the general contour of their figure, and the arrangement of the 
markings is very conspicuous. The muzzle is moderate in length, and the scales are rather 
large in proportion to the dimensions of the body. 
The Wandering Chaetodon is a native of the waters extending from the Red Sea to 
Polynesia, and is one of the common fishes of the Ceylonese coasts. 
The colors of this fish are very beautiful, and are arranged after a very curious fashion. 
The ground color of the body is golden- yellow, on which a number of purplish-brown lines are 
drawn. Some which start from the upper edge of the gill-cover are drawn obliquely towards 
the centre of the dorsal fin, and from the last of these lines a. number of streaks issue nearly at 
right angles, take a slight sweep downwards, and then converge towards the tail. From the 
upper part of the head a broad black band descends to the angle of the interoperculum, and 
envelops the eye in its progress. The dorsal fin has a narrow black edge, and a black band 
extends along the soft portion of the same fin, crosses the tail, and is continued on the anal 
fin, which has a black and white edge. Two bold black bands are drawn across the tail. It 
is not a large species, rarely exceeding One foot in length. 
A most remarkable species is called, from the form of its mouth, the Beaked 
Chaetodox. 
The curiously elongated muzzle is employed by this fish in a rather unexpected manner, 
being used as a gun or bow, a drop of water taking the place of the arrow or bullet. Perhaps 
the closest analogy is with the celebrated “sumpitan,” or blow-gun, of the Macoushi Indians, 
a tube through which an arrow is driven by the force of the breath. The Beaked Chmtodon 
feeds largely on flies and other insects, but is not forced to depend, as is the case with nearly 
every other fish, on the accidental fall of its prey into the water. If it sees a fly or other 
insect resting on a twig or grass-blade that overhangs the water, the Clue tod on approaches 
very quietly, the greater part of its body submerged, and its nose just showing itself above 
the surface, the point directed towards the victim. Suddenly, it shoots a drop of water at the 
fly with such accuracy of aim, that the unsuspecting insect is knocked off its perch, and is 
snapped up by the fish as soon as it touches the surface of the water. 
This habit it continues even in captivity, and is in consequence in great estimation as 
a houshold pet by the J apanese. They keep the fish in a large bowl of water, and amuse 
themselves by holding towards it a fly upon the end of a slender rod, and seeing the finny 
archer strike its prey into the water. Another fish, which will be described in the following 
pages, possesses the same faculty, but is not so remarkable for its eccentric form and the bold 
beauty of its tints. 
