!■ the tropics in a brackish water pool. Perioplilhalmus with its tail in the water. Above it, the cuchia. 

 On the right of the picture, perched in a tree, Aiuibas testuiJineits : below this, Ophiocephalus slriatus. 



The osphronemid fishes live in the clearer waters, such being tiie iiouranii ( Osphronemiis 

 olfax), the paradise-fish (Macropudiis upercalavis ) and the fighting-iish (Bella piignax). The 

 nests of these three species are made of air-bubbles blown by the males, who secrete a sticky 

 mucus around the bubbles which come together at the surface to form a kind of dome, providing 

 shelter for the eggs. The gourami and the paradise-fish have floating eggs but those of the 

 fighting-fish are heavier than water. This bellicose animal swims right up to the female, turns 

 her over and grips her tightly. During this embrace the eggs are extruded and fertilised. 

 The male then takes them in his mouth and rises to the surface, sticking them under the raft 

 of foam. Then he watches over them and for several days after hatching stops the fry from 

 going far away, keeping them in their artificial shelter. The prowess of fighting-fishes, which 

 has excited the Siamese since time immemorial, is well known. Considerable sums of money 

 are staked on these fights and the state budget draws a substantial levy. 





