Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-10
STUDY OF FISH LIFE
is INTERESTING ONE
Writer Discusses Odd Species
and Where They Are
Found.
TELLS OF THEIR LIMITATIONS.
Some Build Nests. others Wink md
Arc Snfd to Climb Trccs-AnEIrr
Fami1y Contains More Strange
Forms Than Any Other.

brondly. fish may DO described
as an animal, or creature. that lives
and swims In the water. There arc.
however. fishes that walk. fishes that
liVe for mon.hs CURED in the mud
OF dricd-up riY.rs: fishes that Driid
nests liko birds: blind fishes. AID
also four-e?tl hshcs.
The family OF the angler fish p
contains more strange forms than
any other. Living on the sea bottom
and seeking their prey b. stealth.
angler fishes do not need powerful
swimming muscles. consequently the
size, OF the body and tail has become
considerably reduced. so that the
head. relatively To the szlc Of the
body, Is unusually large (anI villain
ously urly). The rays of the hack
I'm arc very long, aud the foremost
Is provided with faI-liko Zap Of
SKIN at the top, extremely sensitive
To touch. and playing Il very impDr :
tant part in the capture OF it's food.
The hsh commonly lies concealed on
khc sea bottom. with this flag
erected. From It's general resem-
blancc To the surrounding seaweed
/, is quit" inconFp!cuous so that
passing hshiings seek not TO avoid
II, II ono touches il. the jaxs be-
meath open instantly. and the luck
less trcspasgcr IL cngul?ed 1t Is
probable tina; this tag serves as "a
iurc 10 stira"t posing fishes. Certain
dcop-sca forms have luminous or
gan in place or the Zap OF skin. and
inns certainly acts only az lure.
T"rrh-I'ish Dr"p-s~n Fish.
The torch-iish is deep sea fish.
Carrying ON It's nose All organ which
/, can illuminate with Il phuspho-
rcsccht light or eN,ingu!sh at VIII
l.inOphrync l.ucifcr does no, use his
lantern 10 guild" h.m on hts painless
course In the dark depths OF ocean.
fr TO enable him to admir-. the
scenery, but. when meal time comes
nc lights up TO attrac. smaller fishes
which. rnirtakInr the lantern for a
phosrhorcaccnt ir,cct. dart s,ralsh,
Tor H. only 10 IND their way into IN.
capacious Jaws ot l. l.ucifer. ,hc
to.Ch-:ish
Tn" Amblyopsls. the blind nsh OF
the Mammoth Caves OF Kentucky
has eyes rudimcntary and function
less, but not entirely lacking /,
ands 't5 food by means uf the senses
OF smell and touch. There is "A
four-"yci fish Ia certain rivers 0.
South America.
one OF the oldest OF all hshes is
member of tho goby farnIly. This
Il th" walkinEfis NO called from
~ habit OF spending most o. It's
tim" on tho mud banks OF rivers, ar
"n m" roots OF trees growing IN the
vicinity. when suddcuiy startled.
away II goes. with hop. skip and
lhmp. inland among tho trees or on
the water IKE Nat stone or piece
OF state sent skimming by school
boy t"ducks Ind ,irakcsD
Til" climbing perch Is an Indian
species ri pe1ph (which quits. the wa
ur and makes It's way a consid.ra-
bic distance overland II Is said -
climb trees II 50. why? Probably
20 catch catctpillars ard the Ike.
and ross!bly. birds. When climbing.
the eTaikiug-pcrch uses IN" breast
ms as II they were arms. to grasp
TIC hourhs II placed !u deep waters.
these nshcS are speedily drowned
Drowned in Deep Wntcr.
OF piscin" oddly, few examples are
more arrcstinE than that furnished
by members OF the StiCkicback fam
ny. az which. marine or nuyin..ir.
there arc eight or more varieties.
The sticklcback Is remarkable as
being ncst-buildcr. Pugnacioua In
courtship, tho victorious male sc.s
about constructing nest. First he
forms "a depression in the sand ny
rolling his prickiy body about there