Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/192

178 were feeding on the worms and small fish. Vast numbers of little amphibious creatures were running about in the mud, and they appeared to be sought after by some of the larger birds. They were from two to eight inches long, resembling a fish in shape, of a light brown colour, and could run and jump by means of two strong pectoral fins. On the approach of an enemy, they buried themselves in the mud with inconceivable rapidity, so that their sudden diasppearancedisappearance [sic] seemed to be the work of magic. One of the Malays was employed in catching them, as they are considered to be a great delicacy. He used for the purpose a thin plank, four feet long, and one foot broad; on one end of which were fixed several sharp-pointed nails, the points projecting beyond the end of the plank. He placed the plank flat upon the mud, and with the right knee resting on it, and kicking the mud with the left foot, he shot along the surface with great rapidity, the sharp-pointed nails transfixing the little creatures before they could succeed in burying themselves sufficiently deep to avoid it. This is a dangerous sport, and requires great skill in the fisherman to prevent accidents; for should he lose his plank, death would be almost inevitable, the mud not having sufficient consistence to support him without the aid of this simple contrivance."

About forty species, contained in four genera, compose this Family: they are all marine, and are found in both hemispheres, principally in the intertropical seas. A few inhabit the Mediterranean, and one is by no means uncommon around