. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER LIV THE ORDER OF FOOT-FISHES PEDICCLATr The strange creatures which form the group of so-called foot-fishes are introduced here, not in the expectation of close acquaintance with many of them, but rather that they may not re- main absolute strangers to us. They live on the bottom of the sea, are not edible, and, being devoid of all value to mankind, they are safe from extermination. The most of them are also safe from close observation. Structurally, they stand next
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER LIV THE ORDER OF FOOT-FISHES PEDICCLATr The strange creatures which form the group of so-called foot-fishes are introduced here, not in the expectation of close acquaintance with many of them, but rather that they may not re- main absolute strangers to us. They live on the bottom of the sea, are not edible, and, being devoid of all value to mankind, they are safe from extermination. The most of them are also safe from close observation. Structurally, they stand next to the foot of the Subclass of Bony Fishes. The Angler, or Goose-Fish,' is the typical representative of this Order. Among fishermen, it is sufficiently known that it has received twenty- By taste and habit the Angler is in the same class as the human fish-hog who fishes with three poles at once. He lies on the bottom of the sea, where the muddy mottlings of his skin give him the appearance of mud and sand, opens his head widely, and props it open, for the free admission of any fish, crustacean, reptile or acjuatic bird that chooses to enter. Dr. Goode observes that the Goose-Fish de- rived that name from the swallomng of live geese, and that there is an authentic record of the capture of one which contained seven wild THE ANC^LBR. one Enghsh names, and in the languages of con- tinental Europe about fifty more. (G. Brown Goode.) It is the glutton of the sea, and its body is merely a purse-like attachment to a mouth that is fearful and wonderful to behold. It has a mouth and an appetite like an old-fashioned carpet-bag, and to it no living thing comes amiss. At present the liody of this creature is piainfvilly small for a mouth so ambitious and all-absorb- ing, but evolution is doing its perfect work, and eventually the maw of the Angler will be dc^'el- oped on the same scale as its mouth. ' Loph'i-iis pis- i2{ A fully-grown Angler is about four feet long, and its mouth
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