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Show QUEER LITTLE FISHES WITH LEGS. Recently we were shown a curiosity in the shape of a small fish about three inches in length, resembling a catfish as to head eyes, and body, but it had four legs; the front ones with feet much like those of a young chicken, with four toes or claws, and the hind ones six toes. Just above its gills were three prongs, standing upward on each side, covered with short fur or down. Its tail was flat, broad and long in proportion to its body, the fish being destitute of fins, this was its propelling power, sending it through the water with speed equal to the fastest of the finny tribe. Its feet and legs seem very tender and pliable, but when it lowers itself down to the bottom of the water it runs on them the same as a four legged quadruped on land. Of course the buoyancy of its body under water renders its weight of little consequence. It was drawn from the well of John Stenger, north of Blood Creek, last spring, at the time being but little larger than an ordinary wiggle tail, and it seems to thrive in its glass prison. His well contains a great many of them, some of which are drawn every day, and he says the wells of many of his neighbors have them, some of whom have attained a much larger growth than this one. The one mentioned has bright, intelligent looking eyes, large mouth, just like that of a catfish, is very tame, and, like coquettes of humanity, very fond of attention. Mr. Stenger caught a very small one of the same species and dropped it in the glass with it one day, when it gobbled it up in a twinkling. The creatures are unknown to any of our running streams of surface water, and there is not the least indication existing of any subterranean streams or lakes in the vicinity where they are found.-Great Bend (Kan.) Democrat. |