The fishes belonging to this family are of large size and compact shape, with the anterior part of the body greatly expanded. The head, which is broad, bears venomous spines, and the mouth is furnished with large teeth. These fishes are voracious, and lie in wait for their prey at the bottom of the water in the mud of the shore. In order to attract it, they make use of cutaneous appendages attached to their spines, which they are able to elevate, and of filaments situated near the mouth. The principal genus is _Lophius_, one species of which, _L. setigerus_ (fig. 112), is found in the seas of China and Japan. Another species, _L. piscatorius_ (the Sea Devil or Angler), occurs in the temperate climates of Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. Certain other _Acanthopterygii_ are _capable of inflicting wounds_, but, although fishermen often believe them to be venomous, or such properties are frequently attributed to them in stories, it is doubtful whether they possess poison-glands. The accidents produced by them are due rather to the fact that the spines in their fins are extremely sharp, and that their flesh is toxic. Those belonging to the _Percidæ_ (the Perch family), especially the genus _Serranus_ and _S. ouatabili_ (fig. 113) in particular, are above all remarkable in this respect. The last-mentioned fish has two or three spines on its operculum. [Illustration: FIG. 113.--_Serranus ouatabili._ (After Savtschenko.)] The same may be said of certain _Squamipinnes_, another family of _Acanthopterygii_, whose stout bodies are brightly coloured, and have very sharp, spiny rays in their dorsal and anal fins. The most curious genus among the fishes belonging to this family is _Holacanthus_, in which the præoperculum is provided with an enormous spine like that of the Weever. _Holocanthus imperator_ (fig. 114) is met with fairly often in the Indian Ocean and Malay Archipelago. [Illustration: FIG. 114.--_Holacanthus imperator_ (Indian Ocean and Malay Archipelago). (After Savtschenko.)] B.--TELEOSTEI.--PLECTOGNATHI. The Order _Plectognathi_ (Family _Gymnodontes_) includes the genera _Diodon_, _Tetrodon_ and _Triodon_, globular fishes, in which the jaw is transformed into a beak and furnished with a sharp dentary plate. Their œsophagus is dilated into a resonant air-pouch. When removed from the water they swallow air and dilate the pouch, and the expulsion of this air is accompanied by a loud noise. Several species of _Tetrodon_ are armed with spines, which produce very painful wounds. Their flesh is toxic, but it has not been proved that poison-glands exist at the base of the spines. On the shores of the Cape of Good Hope, Brazil, China, and Japan these fishes are much feared. The principal species are _Tetrodon stellatus_ (Indian and Pacific Oceans; fig. 115) and _T. rubripes_ (Japan; fig. 116). [Illustration: FIG. 115.--_Tetrodon stellatus_ (Indian and Pacific Oceans). (After Savtschenko.)]