The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
some GROTESQUE FISHES
Human Resemblance Among In
habitants of the Sea.
A Specimen Recently Received mt
the Smithsonian InstitutiOp-Oid
Stories of Odd Denizcns of the
Deep-A Marine CIergy-POpuInr
Creauiity Not n Thing of the Past.

The Smithsonian Institution is in re-
ceipt Of a very curious FISH caught in Mas
sau Sound, near Fernandina, Fla. The
| specimen has been anxiously expected by
the authorities at the Institution from the
fact OF its having been mistakenly repre-
scented beforehand as belonging to the
perophthalmus family. a group that is re-
garded as being confined solely TO Africa.
The fact. however. that an ocean current
| sweeps in a circular direction along the
African coast and around into the Gulf Of
Mexico, and along the Florida coast offered
the plausible hypothesis that some of the
| species of fish in question might have been
carried along this stream from its African
habitat to Florida.
As a matter of fact, however, such a
contingency could only be looked for in
the case OF deep water fishes, while the
species to which the actual specimen re-
| ceiyed belongs tAutennarius), as well as
| that to which it was incorrectly ascribed,
both inhabit shallow water. and live either
| upon the surface or upon land Both are
provided with pectoral fins which resem
bic to an extraordinary degree, human
| arms the elbows and even fve-fin
| gered hands, with the exception that the
| latter are webbed, curiously resembling
| those of man.
Tie specimen received by the Smithso-
MAN Institution is what is popularity
known as a mud fish, aid its peculiar fms
or rather short arms are evidently given
| it for the purpose OF assisting its loco
motion upon muddy or sandy banks. 1t
makes its nest in sea weed. 1t is pro-
vided with what may be described
natural fishing rcd. like the angler fish
and many other of the same genus which
is really an elongation OF the first spine
Of the anterior dorsal fin. This termi-
mates In a lappet and IS movable in every
direction, SO as to serve bait for 9TH
er fish which are thus attracted and speed
lily devoured by the willy creature.
The African species known as the pc
rophthalmus resembles the Antennarius
in many respects. Its pectoral fin is also
in the nature of human limb, and serves
it for walking upon the shore in search of
insects, which it devours. 1t further en-
ables it to climb small twigs or bushes
in search of prey. A cast in the National
Museum represents one of the species in
the act of climbing a branch or twig,
which it is enabled to do by means of its
very strong fins, or rather arms. and also
its prehensile anal fin. The African goby,
however, is larger and more muscular
than the Florida mud fish, and possesses
the power of making short leaps when in
pursuit of its prey upon land
The scientific mind would appear to be
strangely callous to those features which
render odd fish attractive in the minds
of the wonder-loving public. Bent upon
the classification of well-known species
according to the number and disposition
of their scales, fms, ETC., the mention of
the sea-serpent, sea-bishop, sea-monk, or
even mermaid awakens in their breasts
no responsive enthusiasm. and, indeed
but little interest. 1t is to dime muse
ums and side shows that such monsters
are relegated. and the curious visitor
looks in vain among the specimens at
the National Museum for anything in the
fish line. that may truly be described as
startling. Nevertheless, that there are in
habitantst of the sea that resemble hui
manity much in the manner OF grotesque
masquers at 4 fancy ball is attested in
many old descriptions and engrayings
which certainly bear every evidence OF
authenticity.
When Trinculo lin Shakespeare's TEN
pest'D mistakes Caliban for "a strange
fish, he at once eXcII LIS: Were | in
England now and had but this fish paint
ed, not holiday fool there but would
give a piece OF silver; there would this
monster make man; any strange beast
give dolt to relieve a lame beggar they
will lay out ten to see dead Indian
1t is probably owing to the exuberance of
popular imagination in bygone days that
those remote human resemblances which
are noted in some kinds of fish were mag
nifed until they found veritable mon
strosities which old engrayers and scribes
have perpetuated to modern times Oc-
casionally the monster" is very mild
form OF monster indeed. A shark or a
porpoise was, by dint of rhetorical -four
ishes converted into very alarming
creature, of which instances occur in Hal
liwells folio edition of Shakespeare.
The artists of the continental countries
of Europe went far beyond all this. In
land people, particularly from their in
experience of the sea, appear to have been
thought capable of believing anything.
Gesner Rondeletius and other authors OF
the sixteenth century narra-e the capture
of marine monsters OF a very strange
order. and among them one that was TIA
ken in Polonia in 1881" which bore gen.
eral resemblance to a bishop. In the rare
and curious little volume on Costume,
by Johannes Sluper, published at Antwerp
in 1872 is picture of this fish.
The "quatrain" appended to this cut af-
firms that bishops are not confined to land
alone but that the sea also has the full
advantage of their presence, and that,
though they may not speak, they wear
mitre. This creature is said to have been
brought before the king, "and after
while seemed very much to express to him
that his mind was to return to his own
element again which the king perceiving
commanded that il should be so; and the
bishcp was carried back to the sea, and
cast himself into it Immediately" The
existence of the bishop once established, |
II naturally became necessary to invest |
him with clergy and diocese, and ac-
cordingly one finds descriptions and por-
traits of sea monks priests, and laymen. |
who are easily to be distinguished by |
their respective garb.
In the Office book of the master of the |
revels. Sir Henry HARRIET, is the entry OF
"a license to James Leale to shew a !
strange fish for half yeare. the Sd of Sep |
TENDER. 1892" The records of London |
England. exhibitions. and the chronicles
of Bartholomew and other fairs supply |
constant succession of these favorite |
shows most amusing underplot in Jas |
per Mayne's comedy, The City Match" |
1869, is founded on this popular credulity |
silly young Cockney is intoxicated by |
revelers upon whom he forces his COM |
pany for the sake of learning fashionable |
follies. and is dressed up and exhibited |
at tavern as "a strange fish to wonder
ing sightseers at shilling head.
One asks If it is a whale. that the |
charge is so high, and another declares.
I'VE gave but a groat TO see the last
fish" The Snowman replies impressively:
Gentlemen that was but an Irish stur-
geon, This came from the Indies. and
eats five crowns a day in fry, OK livers,
and brown pastel"
However, il will not do to laugh at our
ancestors Even at the present day there |