1 
178 ACANTHOPTERYGII. LOPHIAD^. 
were feeding on the worms and small fish. Vast; 
numbers of little amphibious creatures were run- 
ning about in the mud, and they appeared to be 
sought after by some of the larger birds. They 
were from two to eight inches long, resembling 
a fish in shape, of a light brown colour, and could 
run and jump by means of two strong pectoral 
fins. On the approach of an enemy, they buried 
themselves in the mud with inconceivable rapidity, 
so that their sudden diasppearance seemed to be 
the work of magic. One of the Malays was em- 
ployed in catching them, as they are considered 
to be a great delicacy. He used for the purpose 
a thin plank, four feet long, and one foot broad ; 
on one end of which were fixed several sharp- 
pointed nails, the points projecting beyond the 
end of the plank. He placed the plank fiat upon 
the mud, and with the right knee resting on it, 
and kicking the mud with the left foot, he shot 
along the surface with great rapidity, the sharp- 
pointed nails transfixing the little creatures before 
they could succeed in burying themselves suffi- 
ciently deep to avoid it. This is a dangerous 
sport, and requires great skill in the fisherman 
to prevent accidents ; for should he lose his 
plank, death would be almost inevitable, the 
mud not having sufficient consistence to sup- 
port him without the aid of this simple contri- 
vance.”’^' 
About forty species, contained in four genera, 
compose this Family: they are all marine, and I 
are found in both hemispheres, principally in the 
intertropical seas. A few inhabit the Mediter- 
ranean, and one is by no means uncommon around i 
* Eastern Seas, p. 213. 
