364 SUPPLEMENT ON 



If it were possible to admit that anomalous beings existed 

 in nature, there would be none that might more justly be 

 considered as such than the Ophicephali ; not so much 

 in consequence of their scaly head, like that of serpents, from 

 which their name is derived, but from the total absence of 

 spines to the fins, except the single spine of the ventral, 

 while in all other points they exhibit a singular analogy with 

 the preceding genera ; but in this they seem to break the 

 grand division of osseous fishes into acanthopterygii and 

 malacopterygii, which, up to this genus, had appeared to 

 interfere with no natural relation. 



Theophrastus was acquainted with these singular fish, for 

 it is to them that we must refer the passage already quoted 

 from that philosopher ; but the moderns appear to have known 

 nothing of them until rather lately. 



The cavity for retaining a reserve of water, with which the 

 ophicephali are provided, gives them, like the anabas, the 

 faculty of living for a long time on dry land. They proceed 

 from the marshes, &c, which they inhabit, to considerable 

 distances in search of others. They are so tenacious of life that 

 their bowels may be torn out, and they may be cut in pieces 

 without being killed at once, and they are often thus sold alive, 

 by slices, in the market, nor do they sell at so high a price 

 when so much of them is cut off that the rest ceases to move. 



The flesh of the ophicephali, without having much flavour, 

 is light, and easy of digestion ; nevertheless it is eaten only 

 by the Indians. It is not served on the tables of Europeans, 

 perhaps in consequence of the resemblance of those fish to 

 reptiles. 



The Ophicephalus marginatus, called in India gacliua, 

 we are told by Mr. Buchanan, sometimes grows to a foot in 

 length, though it seldom exceeds a span. It is very common 

 in the ponds and dykes of Bengal, and is one of the species 

 respecting which the people most universally entertain the 



