CELL-THROATS. 151 



Family XII. Ophiocephalid^. 



{Cell-throats.) 



These are fresh-water fishes, all inhabiting 

 with one exception (an African species) the 

 rivers of India. They are chiefly interesting be- 

 cause they possess certain peculiarities of internal 

 structure, which distinguish them from all other 

 fishes, and which are connected with habits and 

 powers no less anomalous. The bones of the 

 throat (or pharynx) are divided into small thin 

 plates more or less numerous ; and these form, 

 by their frill-like undulations and contortions, 

 intercepting cells, in which water can be retained, 

 and whence it can flow forth upon the gills and 

 keep them moist for a long time, when the fish is 

 on the dry land. By this structure the members 

 of the Family are enabled to crawl from the 

 rivers and ponds which they usually inhabit, and 

 migrate to others at a distance ; or, as some sup- 

 pose, hide themselves in holes in the muddy 

 banks, during the season of drought, waiting for 

 the return of the periodical rains to restore them 

 to activity. It is afiirmed by persons of veracity 

 who have lived long in India, that in ponds 

 which perfectly dry up, the bottom being hard 

 and cracked, fishes are found a few days after 

 the commencement of the rainy season, though 

 no rivers or brooks flow into them. The size 

 of the newly found fishes will scarcely admit the 

 explanation which has been suggested of this 

 phenomenon, viz., that they are just hatched 

 from ova which had been deposited in the mud 



