Identifier: smithsonianmisce481907smit (find matches)
Title: Smithsonian miscellaneous collections
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Smithsonian Institution
Subjects: Science
Publisher: Washington : Smithsonian Institution
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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element of beautyin such must be a matter of opinion. In contrast with Ayres, Bairdthought that few fishes are more repulsive in appearance onaccount of the laciniated processes or fringes about the jaw,goggle eyes, and slimy body. The crowding together of many individuals just alluded to is acharacteristic habit in aquaria at least. The toadfish is not a school-ing or social animal as generally understood but there are veryfew others who will associate as closely as it does. All the fishes 394 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS (vol. 48 in a toadfish aquarium may occasionally be found massed togetherin a regular heap, as close together as possible, in some selectedcorner, some on top of the others. In such positions some mayremain cjuite a long time (perhaps an hour even) and most of themscarcely move; there will be often some restlessness, nevertheless,and from time to time one or more may leave and swim about orpossibly seek another corner. Generally, however, there are several
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Fig. 108.—Common toadfish in characteristic posture. After Lesueur. (one or more) moving about in another corner. When compelledat length to move away from its resting place a fish will progresswith a wriggling movement, well represented in the accompanyingfigure/ and the soft dorsal fin especially is subjected to a ratherrapid and regular undulatory action, reminding one of a screw pro-peller. If roused by a stick to action, the disturbed fishs first im-pulse is to snap at the offending instrument, and perhaps one in itsanger may swallow a lot of pebbles, to disgorge when at rest again.Most toadfishes are voracious and almost omnivorous. Theassumption of Giinther ( all of the Batrachoids with obtuse teethin the palate and in the lower jaw feed on mollusca and crusta-ceans ) is only half true. Besides crustaceans, mollusks and worms,it preys on such small fishes as it may be able to catch, especiallyupon Anchovies and Sand-Smelt. Verrill (1871) found that thelarge stomach was usuall

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