CAUGHT A WALKING FISH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

CAUGHT A WALKING FISH.

Frank Davey, a photographer, is the possessor of a very strange fish, which, after having exhibited to a number of friends while still alive, he put into alcohol to keep. The fish is known to some people here,' but is quite rare. Its home is in the deep water, and if Ihe story told by the Chinaman who procured it, namely, that the catch waa made in comparatively .hallow water just outside of.the harbour, is to be depended on, the occurrence is indeed unusual. • It is about three inches in length, and when alive was of a bright yellow hue, with' spots of black here and there. Its mouth is quite large, and the part of the body nearest is correspondingly large. It then tapers off to a small tail. But the peculiar part is that there are no gills, or what are popularly known as such. "Where these should be the skin is just as it is all over the body. At a distance of about a half an inch and protruding from the belly near the central part are what might be called arms or legs. They are jointed and have some ten very fine claws. These, together with another pair further anterior, the fish, when alive, used to walk i about with on the bottom of the jar in j which it was contained. It would show fight instantly when approached, and gave evry sign of being endowed with the spirit of the evil one, bristling up its fins, snapping its sharp teeth, elevating a sharp, knifei like appendage mentioned above. ! When the fish was killed and placed !in alcohol the bright yellow disappeared entirely, and left in its place a Avhitisn colour.—'Pacific Commercial Advertiser,"Honolulu. -A-j