THE MADRAS AQUARIUM. 
627 
its help these fishes are able to attach to ships, whales and tvirtles, and so get 
carried about without etfort on their jmrt. In some parts of the world this 
habit has been utilized by fishermen in the pursuit of turtle, a sucker-fish with 
one end of a strong cord tied to the tail being set free when a turtle is seen resting 
on the surface of the sea. The Kemora instantly swims to the turtle, as being 
a suitable object to affix to ; when attached, the fishermen haul in the line and 
tvith it both turtle and sucker-fish. Columbus described this custom as prac- 
tised by the Caribs. Though not now practised in the West Indies, it appears 
to be in use on the African coast and by the ever ingenious Chinese. 
A tank containing a large number of the Rosy-banded Snapper (Lutianus 
sehce) is very popular, so beautiful are these fishes, banded dark crimson and 
white. Like so many other fishes these snappers change colour on occasion. 
When spoiling for a fight or struggling for food their colour bands gain greatly 
in intensity, fading considerably when resting. 
Fig. I. — The Yellow A.'igler (.luteminriti.t kit .■itiuit). 
Other noteworthy fishes are the Yellow Anglers, Antennarius Mspidiis and 
A. nummifer. The former is quite common at Madras, and some are always 
present in the tanks. Like its well-known European relative, Lophius, (the 
Fishing-frog), the first dorsal fin ray is modified into a miniature fishing-rod 
with a fluffy white tassel at the end to represent the bait. It is a lumpy little 
fish, yellow in colour with numerous dark stripes, possibly colour markings 
that subserve a protective function. Its custom is to lie inert and motion- 
less, flicking their tassel-bait nervously to and fro to the end that some in- 
quisitive little fish may be attracted to enquire into what curious thing this may 
be. If he come close enough, a great gape of mouth opens suddenly and the 
little fish disappears. The feeding of these fishes always causes absorbed 
interest on the part of visitors. They are so accustomed to have their 
prey come to them and literally fall into their mouth that when feeding time 
comes, their more active tank companions give them no chance to get food. So 
the attendant has to transfix a morsel of fish on the end of a wire and dangle 
it above the face of the fish, which generally snaps it up just as the attendant’s 
patience is on the verge of exhaustion. 
