CLASS PISCES. 217 



The tenth family of the Acanthopterygii compre- 

 hends a small number of genera, distinguished by 



Labymnthiform Pharyngeals. 



That is to say, that a part of the superior pharyn- 

 geals of these fishes is divided into small laminae, 

 more or less numerous, intercepting cells, in which 

 water can remain, flow upon, and moisten the gills 

 when the fish is on dry land. Thus these fishes are 

 permitted to repair to land, and crawl to a very con- 

 siderable distance from the rivulets or pools which 

 constitute their ordinary habitation ; a singular faculty, 

 not unknown to the ancients \ This also induces 

 the people of India to believe that these fishes fall 

 from heaven. 



Anabas, Cuv., 



Are such as have these labyrinths in the greatest de- 

 gree of complication ; nevertheless the third pharyn- 

 geals have teeth disposed like pavement (en paves), 

 and there are others behind the cranium. Their 

 body is round, and covered with strong scales, their 

 head broad, muzzle short and obtuse, and mouth 

 small ; the lateral line is interrupted at its posterior 

 third. The borders of their operculum, suboper- 



1 Theoplirastus, in his treatise upon fishes which live out of 

 water, speaks of small ones which leave their native streams for 

 some time and then return to them, and says that they resemhle a 

 mullet. 



