File:Ocean wonders- a companion for the seaside (1879) (14763983544).jpg

Identifier: oceanwonderscomp00damo (find matches)
Title: Ocean wonders: a companion for the seaside
Year: 1879 (1870s)
Authors: Damon, William Emerson, 1838-
Subjects: Marine animals Aquariums
Publisher: New York, D. Appleton and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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pally mouth !—like the end-man in a negro minstrelshow. Though the written description of this fish would notmark it as an attractive object, in reality there is much of in-terest about it, and it forms a very welcome addition to theaquarium; especially as it is quite hardy, and has not that habit of dying which is so annoying to the collector. The Angler (Lophius piscatorius).—This is a villainous-looking fish, about four feet long, with a large head and- monstrous mouth. For some reason it has been blessed with 114 THE OCEAN. a greater number of names than usually falls to the lot offishes: in some localities it is called the angler or the fish-ing frog, in others the sea-devil, the bellows, goose,monk-fish, etc., etc. Its habits are no better than itssobriquets ; it usually establishes itself in an ambuscade ofmud or sand, and when the unwary little fish see the tempt-ing bit of shining membrane which hangs over its mouthfrom the tip of a curious long spine—like the shiner on
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The Sea-Kaven (Hemitriptt an anglers rod—the unsavory bait is successful, and the smallfish proceed to their doom, as the great mouth opens andtakes them in, remorselessly as a scoop-net. The great num-ber which they swallow often leads, however, to their owndestruction; for, though this marine angler is not himselfdesired for the table, fishermen often kill him for the sake ofthe numerous small fish which are found in his stomach.The apparatus with which he baits his victims is unique in SOME CURIOUS DEXIZENS OF THE SEA. 115 the piscatorial line. It is one of several long, movable spines,rising from the back of the head, arranged something on theplan of a hook and staple; it is very curious, and well worththe trouble of dissecting a specimen, to see the beautiful adap-tation of Nature in this bony contrivance to help the uglyfellow to a dinner. Its locale is northerly, not being found

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