ccxxvi LoPHiiDa:. FISHES. Okthagobiscid^e. 
Maltliea of DeKay, and supposed to be tlie M. l adi- 
utus of Mitcliill. It ranges from Labrador to tlie 
Caribbean Sea. The Dotted Maltliea (M. notata, 
Val.) is found in the South Atlantic seas. 
Family — LO PHII DJE. 
ANGLER, OR BELLOWS-FISH (LopMvs america- 
nvs, DeKay ) — Plate 12, fig. 62. — Called Goose-fish 
in Massachusetts, Monk-fish in Maine, also Fishing- 
FKOG, American Angler, Sea-devil, etc., with a range 
from Nova Scotia to Hatteras. It is often taken 
in Massachusetts Bay, and, from its great sluggish- 
ness and bulk, is frequently thrown ashore during the 
heavy storms of the Eastern Coast. We have seen 
a specimen which measured about three feet in length, 
wedged between two rocks at low tide, and its enor- 
mous mouth distended with a Cod which nearly 
equalled the dimensions of its captor. Its bulky 
form and diminutive fins would seem to indicate a 
sluggish habit; and, indeed, there is no doubt that its 
usual method of procuring prey is to lie upon the 
bottom, partially concealed under algae or mud, its 
wide mouth ready to engulf any living thing that 
comes in its way. Yet Pennant records of the 
English species that it undoubtedly does seize large 
and powerful fishes. Dr. DeKay says: “ 'I’he largest 
one I have seen was four feet long. 'I'hey are not 
eaten, but fishermen often open them for the sake of 
the numerous fishes that are found in theirstomachs.” 
'I’he remarkable dimensions of this Fish may be ap- 
preciated by noting the following measurements : 
Dr. Storer’s specimen was forty-four inches in length 
and thirty-five in breadth, with a gape of mouth nine 
inches in extent. 'I’his Fish derives one or more 
names from the fact that two or three of its dorsal 
fin-rays are developed into separate and moveable 
rods, one of which is especially adapted to entice its 
prey within reach of its mouth. During our sojourn 
with the Fishery Commission in the summer of 
1878, we had an opportunity to secure a very large 
specimen of this Fish, upon which the peculiar fish- 
ing apparatus was perfectly developed. 'I'here were 
three separate fin-rays, each from one to two inches 
apart, and each one entirely naked, save the fore- 
most, which had a small burgee, or fiag-like filament. 
On carefully dissecting the structure, there is seen 
situated on the top of the cranium a consolidation of 
several interspinous bones, supporting two of the 
fin-rays. 'I'he anterior fin-ray is so developed as to be 
an exact counterpart of an eye-bolt and chain-link, 
with the upper prolonged into a rod. 'I'he structure 
of the Fish is very interesting and beautiful in itself, 
so perfect is the analogy and so apparent the design. 
'I'he next rod, in the rear, is much like the first, but is 
articulated nearly as all fin-rays are, by suture in the 
articulating head, which, instead of allowing a com- 
plete perforation of the interspinous bone and its 
embracement, is articulated nearly as in the normal 
manner, allowing only the same forward and back- 
ward movements as with the ordinary fin-rays. A 
third ray or rod is situated some three inches in 
the rear, on a separate and smaller interspinous 
bone, and more nearly resembles the normal artic- 
ulation. 'I'he anterior rod, then, is the only one 
that seems to be at all capable of use, and this is 
moveable in all directions. It reaches, when pro- 
jected forwards and downwards, just before the 
mouth, and is no doubt intended to allure by its 
gentle agitation the creature’s prey within reach of 
its enormous mouth. 'I'he small flag-like fillet on the 
end of the rod attracts the attention of the prey, 
when, at the critical moment, the great head and 
shoulders are suddenly raised, and even fishes of large 
size are snapped in. 'I'he pectoral fins are extreme- 
ly stout and feet-like, and readily afford the creature 
means and power to quickly seize upon passing prey. 
Belon calls it Le Diable de Mer, or La Orenoille 
de Mer (Sea-frog). He figures it tolerably well, 
excepting that the pectoral fins are drawn as paws, 
and a second pair of even more paw-like limbs are 
placed in the rear, which seem to be wholly fictitious, 
though the dorsal and anal fins are entirely omitted. 
He ranks it with the Bays. Rondelet’s figure has 
the characteristic outline of the Fish, with jjretty 
correct details. His trivial name is Galanga, and he 
places it between the Rays and Sharks. Storersays : 
“ I am assured that entire sea-fowls are swallowed by 
this Fish, and Capt. West, of Chilmark, informed me 
that he had known a Goose-fish to be taken with six 
coots in fresh condition in his stomach.” 
Family — OER A'l’ 1 ID M . 
TUFTED FROG-FISH (Llmantolophtis granland- 
icus, Reinhardt). — -Habitat, Greenland. One species 
of Oneirodes — Esohricht’s Frog-fish — and one of 
Geiatias— Holboll’s Frog-fish — are from the same 
locality. 
Family — ANTENN ARIlDAil. 
TOAD-FISH (Pterophryne Imigata (Cur.), Gill). 
— Galled, also. Common Frog-fish, Mouse-fish, and, 
in Cuba, Pescador ; in Bermuda, Devil-fish. It is 
an oceanic Fish, accidental on the coast. 
Family— ORTH AGORISCIDiE. 
GLOBE-FISH (Molacanthm nummularis (Walh.), 
Gill). — 'I'his is regarded as a pelagic species, and 
only accidental on the coast. Dr. DeKay records 
a Globe-fish — Acanthosoma carinatum — which Dr. 
Mitcliill, one of the first who described the Fishes of 
New York, mentions as being noticed on our coast, 
and names Diodon. 
SUN-FISH [Mola rotunda)— VVK q 13, fig. 68.— 
'I’his has long borne the generic name Orthagoriscus. 
'I’he present nomenclature is referred to Cuvier. 
DeKay records it as 'J'he Short-head Fish (0. 
mola). Lin mens named it 'I'etraodon mOla; Mitcliill, 
Ce|)halu3 brevis ; and Storer, 0. mola (the Short 
Sun-fish). In Cuba it is called Pez mola. Several 
species are known, but the present is the only one 
found near our Atlantic shores. Like some other 
species, it seems either to have been very rare in 
