THE LIVING WORLD. 
io 5 
delicacy, but thus far few have been found willing to make the experiment. 
Any one who has visited the seashore must have become acquainted with 
this fish, whose only fault is that of disappointing an over-eager fisherman. 
The peculiar and not unmusical sound made by the sea robin is always interesting 
to children. It is a queer-looking object, but if one avoids uncalled-for interfer¬ 
ence with its spines it will hardly be found repulsive. 
The Swallow Fish (. Dactyloptera volitans ) varies in length from half a foot 
to a foot and a quarter. The pectoral fin is sufficiently extended to admit of 
the fish’s sustaining 
itself in the air for a 
short period, and hence 
appearing to fly. It is 
not, however, a true 
“ flying fish.” It is 
singular in form and 
appearance, and occurs 
in the waters of Europe 
and of America. It has 
already received suffi¬ 
cient notice among the 
flying fish. 
The Sting Fish, 
Sting Bull, Great 
Weaver, or Chanti¬ 
cleer (Trachinus draco ) 
is a deep-water marine growling cock ( Trigla hirundo). 
fish. It is spined the 
whole length of its back and belly, and is, therefore, a very uncanny sight to 
the inexperienced fisherman. It looks as though the ordinary skeleton of the 
fish had separated in the middle, and was escaping through the back and belly. 
The Ocean Butterfly, or Ocellated Blenny (. Blennius ocellaris ), is a little 
fellow only about three inches in length. It lives among the weeds, and its 
pale-brown color makes it hard to distinguish it from them. Its dorsal fins 
extend from the head to the tail, and from their size and arrangement suggest 
the wings of the butterfly. 
The Oar-fish (. Regalecus banksii ) 
has at 'times been confounded with 
the sea-serpent. It has been found of 
as great length as twenty feet. Its 
ventral finrs are simply two dagger¬ 
like prongs just back of the throat, 
and pointing obliquely toward the tail. 
The body is oar-like, and is propelled in a sinuous manner The head is 
feathered with spines after the fashion of an Indian chief, and its back is adorned 
WlA The" common Cod-fish (Gadus morrhud) is doubtless the most interesting 
fish when regarded commercially. The largest specimen so far known weighed 
one hundred and sixty pounds; the average weight is from fifty to sixty pounds. 
The cod is found as far north as the Arctic Ocean, and as far south as the 
great weaver (Trachinus draco). 
