Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/194

180 they have very little in the cross direction. The one near the lip, however, can be moved with nearly the same ease and rapidity in every direction; and while the others terminate in points, it carries a little membrane, or flag, of brilliant metallic lustre, which the fish is understood to use as a

means of alluring its prey; and the position of the flag, the eyes, and the mouth certainly would answer well for such a purpose.”

The fact that the fish does use these long filaments as baits to attract the fishes which are to become its prey, seems to be indubitable, and has been known ever since the days of Aristotle. At that early period the instinctive stratagem had secured for it the name of Fisher, and the terms Fishing Frog, and Angler, by which it is known with us, commemorate the popular opinion of its powers. The absence of an air-bladder compels the Lophius to be a ground feeder, nor does it seem able to float freely at any depth without effort as many fishes do, or to do more than rise to the surface by the impulse of its fins, sinking as soon as the muscular effort is intermitted. Its