Labyrinthici and Holconoti 369 



(Panicum jumentorum] which grows on the surface of the water, 

 and whose floating roots, rising and falling with the movements 

 of the water, form natural galleries, under which the fish can 

 conceal themselves. In one of the corners of the pond, among 

 the plants which grow there, the gouramis attach their nest, 

 which is of a nearly spherical form, and composed of plants 

 and mud, and considerably resembles in form those of some 

 birds. 



" The gourami is omnivorous, taking at times flesh, fish, frogs, 

 insects, worms, and many kinds of vegetables; and on account 

 of its omnivorous habit, it has been called by the French colo- 

 nists of Mauritius pore des rivieres, or 'water-pig.' It is, how- 

 ever, essentially a vegetarian, and its adaptation for this diet 

 is indicated by the extremely elongated intestinal canal, which 

 is many times folded upon itself. It is said to be especially 

 fond of the leaves of several araceous plants. Its flesh is, 

 according to several authors, of a light-yellow straw-color, firm 

 and easy of digestion. They vary in quality with the nature 

 of the waters inhabited, those taken from a rocky river being 

 much superior to those from muddy ponds; but those dwelling 

 at the mouth of rivers, where the water is to some extent brack- 

 ish, are the best of all. Again, they vary with age; and the 

 large, overgrown fishes are much less esteemed than the small 

 ones. They are in their prime when three years old. Dr. Vin- 

 son says the flavor is somewhat like that of carp; and, if this 

 is so, we may entertain some skepticism as to its superiority; 

 but the unanimous testimony in favor of its excellence natu- 

 rally leads to the belief that the comparison is unfair to the 

 gourami. 



"Numerous attempts have been made by the French to 

 introduce the gourami into their country, as well as into several 

 of their provinces; and for a number of years consignments of 

 the eggs, or the young, or adult fish, were made. Although 

 at least partially successful, the fish has never been domiciliated 

 in the Republic, and, indeed, it could not be reasonably expected 

 that it would be, knowing, as we do, its sensitiveness to cold and 

 the climates under which it thrives. 



"The fish of paradise (Macropodus mridi-auratus) is a species 

 remarkable for its beauty and the extension of its fins, and 



ii 24 



