Semi-weekly herald., 1909-03-25

Its cayernous mouth and .ssizes the
victim.
Equally curious is the arrangement
found on the head OF the batfish, OF
Malthe. II is soft, fleshy object
susceptible of being lowered and rails
ed at viii. seemingly bait without
the rod. and supposed to be used as q
lure TO this living trap.
One Of the deep sea rays, which ia
quite blind. has a row OF minute lu.
minous glands along the edge OF It's
disk. these probably being lures to
attract its prey. AS the fish possesses
electric properties also. II probably
lures Its prey close with the phosphor.
escent lights and then gives 1t its
quletus by means OF an electric shock
A most extraordinary species is the
torchfsh Linophryne luclfer). 1t has
an enormous head, oblique jaws armed
with numerous long, slender. and
sharp pointed teeth. while the skin is
black and smooth. A conspicuous
spine projects above either eve. On
the upper jaw in the middle there is
large egg shaped bulb supported on
tentacle. Tho upper half Of this bulb
is white, while Its stalk and lower
half are black. 1t Possesses powerful
phosphorescent properties, the light
being under the control OF the fish
This is the torch SUSPENDED from
the lower jaw there is long. slender
perfectly flexible. and whiplke tenta.
Gle. which is enlarged and bifurcated
at Its free extremity. This appendage
the torchfish has the power of way.
Ing at will These structures, how
ever, are by no means of a purelv or.
namental and useless character; for
IL is through them that this denizen
OF the deep captures lis prey.
All II has to do is to rest uuietIy
IN the water. occasionally flashing Its
torch and idly angling about with Its
throat tentacle--a veritable living fish.
ing rod. The latter. and the allure
ments of the brilliant little torch. soon
attract lot OF small fish Suddenly
II darts forward. and down its capa.
cious NAV Into the equally capacious
gastric sac beyond It. goes one of It's
too curious brethren.
Only one specimen OF the torchfish. |
and that but two inches in length. |
has ever been captured. This was
found floating on the sea nearly two
hundred miles northeast OF Madeira In
May 1877. and for many years, 70.
manned undescribed I'm Christiana.
Norway When taken out of the wa.
ter II was stIll alive, though It had
recently swallowed fish considera |
bly, longer than itself; this being pos,
sible owing 10 its being fitted with a |
sort Of receiving pouch on the under
side and tail end which is capable OF |
considerable stretching.
curious FISH found off the Mauri. |
titus and Japan is the mailed Ash.
about six inches In length, which lures |
Its prey within reach Of Its jaws by |
means OF a luminous disk on each
side OF the lower jaw.
In European fresh water is to be |
found very large siluroid known as
the wells. Its head is large. broad,
and depressed. fully as long as the |
trunk itself. while the tail is compress
ed and longer than the head and trunk |
together. The entire fish is destitute
OF scales and covered with smooth |
slippery skin like an eel The snout
Is very short. the mouth broad, with |
the lower jaw longer and very ex
tensible. There are six barbels round
the mouth, two OF which. situated on
each side OF the upper jaw before the
eye. are very long, extending nearly
to the tail; the other four are much
shorter. and arranged in pairs on the
chin.
Owing to it's poor eyesight and slug.
gish movements, the wells would be
badly handicapped In the race OF life
II not for these barbels. especially
those OF the upper Jaw, which can be
hoftu NoiuHtdIiy III every ulTtctlOu.
In moving leisurely about the fish uses
them constantly in feeling It's way
and at the same time they serve to
attract other fishes which mistake
them for worms. When the wells per
ceiyes Its prey close enough to be
seized. It makes a dart, and rarely
fails to capture IL
The South American Anableps OBJ
tains much of It's food on the surface
OF the water. and to aid II In this
purpose has eyes so divided that It
possesses apparently four. owing to
the cornea and Iris being divided by
transverse bands. SO that the two pu.
pills are observed on each side, while
the other parts OF the eye are single.
In pursuing It's prey the fish leaps
along on the surface, partly out of the
| water like frog. and the peculiar
arrangement Of Its eyes permits 1t to
see with the upper portion OF the eye
when out OF the water and with the
lower portion when below the surface
An Indian fish gifted with a most