FAMILY XXXVIII.— LABYRIXTHICI. 369 



Family, XXXVIII— LABYRINTHICI, pt, Cuvier. 



Andbantidce, pt, Richardson ; SinrohrancMdce, pt., Swainson ; LahijrintMbranclui, pt., Owen. 



Osphrumenoidei, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals from four to six: pseudobranchise rudimentary or absent. Gills four. Body 

 compressed, oblong, or elevated. Eyes lateral. Gill-opeuing rather narrow, the membranes united below 

 the isthmus. Above the third or upper portion of the first branchial arch exists a cavity, in which is 

 contained an elaborate apparatus consisting of thin laminae of bone, covered by a vascular mucous membrane, 

 and which is employed for respiratory purposes.* The number of dorsal and anal spines variable : ventrals 

 thoracic. Scales ctenoid and of moderate size. Lateral-line interrupted or absent. Air-vessel present 

 or absent. Pyloric appendages when present few. 



Professor Peters (]!iIonats. Akad. Berlin, 1808, p. 2.50) includes OpMocepJialidai and Lucioeephalid<B 

 in this Family. 



Georjrafhical distnhviwn.— 'Fresh water and estuary fishes of Asia and South Africa. They are capable 

 of living a considerable period out of their natural element, as they are able to respire atmospheric air, either 

 directly^'or else in solution in water. They consist of both vegetable and animal feeders, are often domesticated 

 and acclimatized in other countries. When domesticated they are subject to considerable variations in form, 

 also in the number of their spines and rays. 



Ifges^—Ml are considered as good for eating, some are even reputed to have medicinal stimulating 

 properties, whUst due to their li\'ing long after removal from the water, they are capable of being brought 

 to the mai'kets in a fresh and wholesome condition. 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. 

 A. Teeth on the palate. 



1. Anahas. Opercles and preorbital serrated : vomerine teeth. India, Burma, Ceylon, and the East. 



B. Fixed teeth in the jaws, palate edentulous. 



2. Pohjacanthus. Dorsal and anal spines numerous : ventrals long : caudal rounded. India and Ceylon. 



3. Osjjhromenus. Dorsal spines in varying numbers (2-13), as are also the anal (7-14) : outer 

 ventral ray filiform. India, China, and the East. 



4. Trichogaster. Ventral fin a single filiform ray. India. 



Genus, 1 — Anabas, Cuvier. 



BraneMostegals six : pseudolraiicliice absent. Superhrancliial organ well-developed.^ BrancMal arches with 

 toothed tulerdes. Mouth rather small. Opercles and preorUtal serrated. Teeth villiform^ in jaws and on the 

 anterior and posterior extremities of the vomer : none on the palatines. Dorsal fin single, the spinous portion of greater 

 extent than the soft : anal spines numerous, but less than those of tlie dorsal. Scales ctenoid, rather large. Lateral- 

 line interrupted. Air-vessel bifid posteriorly tdth either extremity produced. Pyloric appendages few or absent. 



Geographical distribution.— Yresh water and estuary fishes. They are found from India to the Malay 

 Ai'chipelago and the Philippine Islands. They are most numerous in the Maritime provinces, and the 

 deltas of the larger rivers. 



ITscs. — The fishes of this genus rarely exceed eight inches in length, but are highly esteemed as 

 nourishing food, whilst owing to their vitality being very gi-eat, they can be conveyed alive for long distances. 

 The boatmen on the Ganges carry them in moist earthern pots, killing and cooking them as required. They are 

 rather voracious fishes, readily taking a worm as a bait. 



These fishes have been reputed to climb trees, and Lieutenant Daldorf reported having captured one five 

 feet from the ground, from the cleft of a palmira tree, the leaves of which commence from the bottom of its 

 stem. They migrate during the rainy season from pond to pond : and have also been found a;stivating during 

 the hot months. 



Accidents are constantly occurring, duo to native fishermen killing these fishes by^ breaking their 

 vertebral column by a bite, as is done by sportsmen in Europe by striking their heads against their boot. Whilst 

 the fish is in the fisherman's mouth for this humane purpose (as it is covered by a slimy, slippery secretion) ,_ it 

 occasionally slips into his throat, and then owing to its spiny character it cannot be withcbawn without extensive 

 laceration of the patient's mouth. Although the following treatment may appear somewhat disgusting it is 



* Obsei-vations on this mode of respiration are deferred until the Siluridai come under consideration. 



t The superbranchial organ consLsts of thin Ijony lamina; placed one above the other, decreasing in size superiorly, and 

 increasing in number with age. At first the edges of these lamiuis are smooth, but as the fish get older they become undulated. 



3 B 



