THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 133 



lower than its soft, which is rather pointed. Pectoral rounded, arising opposite the third 

 dorsal spine. Ventral commences opposite the first quarter of tho pectoral. Anal of tho 

 same shape as the dorsal, and begins below the tenth dorsal spine. Caudal large and rounded. 

 Dorsal spines strong, occupying nearly five sixths of the base of the fin : the membrane deeply 

 notched : the third spine is higher than the two first, which are about even in length ; a groove 

 exists along the back, into which the spines may be laid. Anal spines and groove the same as in 

 the dorsal fin: its spinous portion occupies two thirds of the entire length of the fin. 



Scales — Ctenoid, ei'ectile, longest diameter from above downwards, extending over the body, 

 and bases of soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, whilst the head is covered with rhomboidal or poly- 

 gonal scales : there are some also on the mandibula. 



Five pores exist at the posterior extremity of the orbit, and pass in a line over the occiput : 

 others are placed below the snout, also along the lower margin of the preopercle, on its vertical 

 border, and on the mandibular. 



Lateral line — Interrupted, for its first two thirds being on the sixth scale, and for its last third 

 on the eighth : it is not continued on to the caudal fin. 



Colours — Rifle green becoming lighter on the abdomen : four dark, vertical, diffused bands 

 pass from the back to the abdomen. In the young fish a dark spot is generally present at the 

 base of the tail. Fins of a dark green, but in clear water they become reddish, and the body 

 more yellow. Eyes reddish hazel. 



Habits — The cHmbing properties attributed to this fish in other portions of India and 

 Ceylon, are fully believed in by the inhabitants of Malabar. Certainly it is with difficulty that 

 they can be retained in a vivarium, as unless it is covered, or its summit upwards of a foot from 

 the water they invariably escape. They are able to progress along the ground in two ways, 

 either by lying on their sides, flapping their tails, and moving their pectoral fins : or else chiefly by 

 the aid of the latter fins, first one being advanced and then the other. They can erect their fins 

 and Hkewise their scales at pleasure, even down to those along the bases of the caudal fin. This 

 power of erection, especially as it also exists in the gill covers, would be a great assistance did 

 they employ the latter in climbing. 



Its hollow superbranchial organ, with from two to six lamina? (the number of which depends 

 on the age of the specimen), with fringed valances, enables the climbing perch to retain water for 

 a considerable time, so that it can moisten its gills and live whilst out of its native element. 

 Hamilton Buchanan observes that he has known it to retain vitality under these conditions for 

 six days. That it travels from pond to pond when its means of subsistence fail is a well known 

 fact ; but that it buries itself in the mud as tanks dry up and remains there until the monsoon of 

 the next year again fills them with water, is a subject that reo^ures further research. 



It should be remarked that the comparative size of many of the parts of the body varies with 

 the age of the fish, its state of health at the time captured, and the supply of food which it has 

 been obtaining. Likewise the number of scales along the lateral line differs considerably in various 

 specimens, as do also the number of its fin rays, and its colours. 



Are common in most pieces of fresh water in Malabar, and esteemed very good eating by the 

 Natives, who invariably when catching them bite their heads, in order to destroy life. On one 

 occasion this practice led to a fatal result; the fish having slipped down the throat of the 

 fisherman, it could not be withdrawn owing to the erectile nature of the gill covers and scales, and 

 the man was suffocated before reaching the hospital. 



Habitat — Fresh waters of India, Malaysia, and the Philippine Islands. 



