Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/381

Rh. 5.—Young Angler showing still greater increase in length and number of anterior dorsal and ventral rays. (After A. Agassiz.)

known about its young until the discovery of the embryonic fish within their floating cradle in the "purple veil," and their subsequent identification as Anglers by development under observation. Dr Theodore Gill has now brought together the scattered fragments of knowledge relating to the development of this fish in an illustrated article published among the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections (vol. 47, part 4, May 6, 1905), entitled "The Life History of the Angler." All the statements given here are taken from this article.

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate various stages in the development of the Angler from the egg within the purple veil up to almost the adult form. In the stage of development shown by figure 6 the little fish when viewed from above, as in figure 7, reminds us somewhat of a long-tailed butterfly. In figure 8 the characteristic seaweed-looking appendages have been developed, and the fish is almost adult. In figure 9 the adult form is shown, and the peculiar nasal appendage with its frond-like extremity,

. 6.—Young Angler in oldest pelagic stage, measuring 30 millimeters in length, seen in profile. (After A. Agassiz.)

which is supposed to serve as a bait for other fish, is well seen. The book name "Angler" is peculiarly appropriate to this fish in view of the fact that its chief occupation in life seems to consist in lying quietly at the bottom of the sea angling for other fish. According to Day, it often lies as if dead, "while its floating filaments, kept in motion by the tide, decoy other fish, and the Angler's tendril is no sooner touched than the game is caught."

Dr Theodore Gill quotes an interesting account of this fish written by Saville Kent, who had excellent opportunities of observing a large individual in the Manchester Aquarium in 1874.

. 7.—Young Angler of oldest pelagic stage, seen from above. (After A. Agassiz.)

The attention of Saville Kent was struck by the marvelous way in which this specimen would disappear in the aquarium without any apparent hiding place. "He is ever slinking off to the rock-work, and establishing himself so closely in some snug corner that it requires, notwithstanding his large size, a considerable amount of diligent search to detect him."

While the creature lay perfectly still,