72 
Tanks No. 10 and 24. 
are called Skate-barrows. The Sting Rays (tank 10) are of dark violet 
colour and have a long slender tail. The latter bears a strong spine which 
can inflict terrible wounds and is considered poisonous by fishermen. They 
bring forth living young ones. 
We have now reached the Bony Fishes, possessing all a bony ske¬ 
leton and gill-covers, and here, too, we will start with those living at 
Fig. 124. Uranoscopus scaber , */2 nat. size. Tank 24. 
the bottom of the sea, where they pass their life hidden in the sand or 
mud, lying in wait for their prey. They swim about in a very clumsy 
way. They will be chiefly found in tank No. 24. The Star-gazer, XJrano- 
scopus (Fig. 124), is an ugly brown fish with a large thick head and a 
body tapering off behind like a wedge. The small eyes are placed on 
the top of the head, hence its name, and the wide mouth is bent up¬ 
wards. It generally lies buried in the sand and there often practises 
an ingenious stratagem. It protrudes from its mouth a long worm-like 
Fig. 125. Trachinus draco, 1/2 nat. size. Tank 24. 
filament, which grows on its lower jaw, and lets it move about in the 
water; this allures fishes, which are anxious to catch what they suppose 
to be a worm, but are suddenly gulped in by the Uranoscopus. When 
disturbed from its sandy retreat, it swims about for a short time, but 
soon falls to the ground and with its shovel-like fins burrows into the 
sand again. It is very common in the Bay and is often seen on the 
market, though it is very poor eating. 
The Weever-fish or Sting-fish, Trachinus (Fig. 125), is somewhat 
similar. It is small and slender and has bright shining eyes. When 
freshly caught and placed in the Aquarium, it soon drops to the bottom 
of the tank and buries itself up to the eyes in the sand. When fed. it 
