The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-02
FISH THAT SHOOTS
7 Secures It's Food Supply IA as
Peculiar Manner.
The Unique Creature brings Down rts N
sect Prey by Shooting It with .
Drop of Water How the
Gun Il Worked

1.-THE sea is full or strange tnlnsS%
said a retired naval officer 70 New
York Sun reporter. land man in
sailing around the globe sees many
striking novelties, but 10 my mind the
most curious and interesting inhabi'
tant OF the salt deep is the archer fish.
o. Siam The feeding habits peculiar
10 each kind of fish seem 70 have de-
veioped mouth exactly shaped and
fitted Cor that special work. as can be
seen by CHANGING at the mouth of any
OF the sucker family, which lives by
drawing up food from the bottom; that
Of the carnivorous fish. as blues, maclSer-
el, bass and sharks. which is wide,
deep-jawed, and armed with sharp
teeth to grip and held the prey, and 50
with all varieties of creatures
This archer, or jaculator, fish hauncs
| the eastern shore of Africa, fndials
seas, and the Malay archipelago, &C,
curing in fresh water streams that
| open into the sea ss well as In salt
water. The name has been earned by,
| its way of capturing insect food. The,
method is to eject drop of water from
the long tubular mouth so forcibly az
| TO knock bugs from the overhanging
| limbs of trees into the water, where
they are readily dsvoured.
"For years travellers have told OF
this remarkab bic fish. but their stories
were, until within few years. upi5
versally discredited by the commopl
run of people. The fish usually swIH
in schools along the shoal edges 81
braclsish creeks or ponds, where the
weeds and PUSHES grow out into the
water. These plants are Inhabited bv
throngs of crawling creatures-spidcrS
moths, ants and beetles The archsrs
slowly and quietly drift closer and,
closer to their victims. barely moving
their wide, wavy fms until within
four or FIVE feet, when they become ira1
movable. with eyes fixed on the living
target. Then they shoot without ever
showing the mouth above the surface
of the water, the drops seeming to be.
propelled directly from the surface.
1T is not only insects on bushes and
twigs that are taken In this way, for
the srchers are expert wing shots al
well. They will swiftly follow a moth
or fly that happens TO hover close over
the water until within easy range.
when they will usually bring down the
victim at the first shot Some observ-
ers say that the fish exudes a drop Of
sticky fluid. which gums the wings of
the flyer and renders them useless. bne
as simple water would do the same
thing there seems to be no necessity
for any such explanation.
THE fish are kept as pets In the gar,
dens OF wealthy Siamese. and TO witt
ness their prowess ut shooting is one Of
the entertainments always offered to
visitors. All Of these parks or gardens
contain pretty fountains and pools
fripged by luxuriant ferns and palma
The bottoms are covered with bright
many-colored pebbles. and as the wa
ter is crystal cl>r and very shallow
all the motions Oh the fish are distincty
ly visible.
AT Bangkok is the palace of tho
siamese king, and in the spacious
grounds surrounding it are many rara
plants and trees, tame animals, and
large pond full of archers. They ara
favoritc pets of the monarch, and ha
watches them by the hour. lie has his
attendants carry branches full Of bugs
to the pool and thrust them into the
soft bank on the margin. Then he and
his guests sit and watch the antics OF
the filmed marlsnsr and their lively
for the dainties- In color
the archer would remind one of our
fresh-water striped perch, but 1t il
darker, and the hines are brighter and
more striking. The fish only grow IN
be four or five inches long, and are Of
q fat, wide shape, not unlike the salt
water pumpkin seed, but with ex-
large, fan-liI1e dorsal and
feeble tail fin The eve IA reddish and
very prominent, and their sight In ~
keen and they are 50 tinid that an on
locker must be very quiet II he would
not brighten them away. They die al
most instantly on being taken out %
the water, and il injured In any way
they soon succumb. In death theip
gay coloring soon fades. and they be-
come n dull greenish gray.
They seem to be Of a social disposi.
ton. always travelling in large compae
nieA IL they have any other defense
than their powers Of fight IL has nos
yet been learned They may hava
some poisonous drop with which they
IAN wound or kill enemies, or they
nay be poor eating. or. as IL raora
likely than either, they may be too
Iuick 20 be caught; but, however It Is,
,ther and larger fsh give the srchers
Tery wide berth"