203 
ANGLER. 
of enabling it to ensnare little fisbes. This Toadfish is aware 
of the use it may make of these organs to obtain, food, and, 
for concealment, hides itself in some muddy place, where it 
keeps its body unmoved, while it lifts up and stretches out 
its line and bait. Little fishes that are wandering about are 
soon attracted, and begin to nibble, which the Angler is quick 
to perceive; and then it proceeds to move its line in a 
cautious manner, so as to lead the prey, without alarming 
them, into the gulph of its jaws, which close upon them 
beyond the power of escape.” 
The generally abrupt depth of water in our seas is a 
hindrance to the observation of such actions as these, but 
there does not appear to be any reason for doubting the 
accuracy of this account; and, on the contrary, an examination 
of other portions of the structure of this fish will tend to 
point out an extension of these powers in other directions. 
Thus, from the jaws round the border of the body to the 
tail there is found a row of membranous or cutaneous lobes, 
which, in most instances, at their extremities are divided into 
club-shaped partitions. These are not merely insensible doublings 
of the skin, but, although in a less degree, they perform the 
office commonly assigned to the fictitious bait suspended from 
the fishing-rod on the top of the head. They offer themselves 
enticingly to be nibbled by fishes that wander in that direction; 
and then is brought into exercise an organization which dis- 
tinguishes the structure of the pectoral and ventral fins. 
The species of this and the neighbouring family of Blennies 
possess the power to change their place as they lie on the 
ground, without an effort of the tail or dorsal fins; which 
latter organs are the instruments of motion in the generality of 
fishes, but which, if put into action by the Angler, would 
excite alarm, and so drive away the prey. The pectoral fin 
of this fish possesses such a framework of bones as is equivalent 
to the wrist joint of a higher class of animals; and the ventral 
also is so fitted with joints resting on a firm series of bones, 
to which also the pectoral is attached; and the whole is so 
well supplied with nerves of sensation, that, with a slow but 
sure and consciously-directed motion, the fish is enabled to 
creep in advance or retreat, or to turn itself round, and so 
lay hold of such incautious rovers as have crowded round it. 
