GILL ON THE GOURAMI. 715 



Such are the temperatures of the regions where (and where only) the 

 gourami flourishes ; the table may be allowed, in the main, to speak for 

 itself, but a slight commentary may serve to enforce its significance. 

 The island of Bourbon, (or Eeunion,) in the coldest months of the year, 

 (June, July, and August,) near St. Denis, has a temperature not lower 

 than 57^ to 59^, (Fahrenheit,) and in the warmest months (January and 

 February) the thermometer indicates a temperature of about 80° near 

 the level of the sea, and at the heights in the vicinity more than 62°. And 

 yet gouramis kept at such elevations, although they lived, and for about 

 thirty years, never propagated, but when transported to the streams of 

 the lowlands soon increased and multiplied ; and as there was no other 

 apparent cause, the barrenness in the elevated regions was attributed, 

 and apparently with justness, to the insufficient warmth. Let it then 

 be borne in mind that a temperature of not less than 57^ retarded the 

 growth and prohibited the multiplication of the gourami.* 



Such, at least, was the general inference from the observed facts and 

 experience respecting the fish in the isle of Bourbon. So sensitive, too, 

 are they to cold, that during the cold spells in Bourbon and Mauritius, 

 they bury themselves in the mud or take shelter in the weeds. So 

 fond, on the other hand, are they of heat and sun-light, that in the hot- 

 test days of summer they bask in the sun, and, ascending to the surface, 

 protrude their mouths and swallow atmospheric air. The last character- 

 istic, however, is doubtless a concomitant of their organization, in com- 

 mon with the other members of the family. 



FOOD. 



The gourami is omnivorous in its appetite, taking at times flesh, fish, 

 frogs, insects, worms, and many kinds of vegetable ; and on account of 

 its omnivorous habit, it has been called by the French colonists of Mau- 

 ritius xmrc des rivieres, or " water-pig ; " it is, however, essentially a vege- 

 tarian, and its adaptation for this diet is indicated by the extremely 

 elongate intestinal canal, which is many times folded upon itself. It is 

 said to be especially fond of the leaves of several araceous plants be- 

 longing to the genera Caladium, Arum, and Pistia ; but it also devours, 

 with not much inferior relish, cabbage, radish, carrot, turnip, and beet 

 leaves, lettuce, and most of the wild plants which grow in the water, 

 and it can secure for its use the leaves of plants that grow on the banks 

 and a slight distance out of the water. It also takes wild rice, maize, 

 potatoes, arrow-root, manioc, bread, and analogous articles. 



* It has even been asserted that a fall of the temperature to 66° (Fahrenheit) caused 

 death on the way from Mauritius to Australia; and in the Museum of Natural History 

 of Paris, in a decrease to 59°, death commenced. Even if some other conditions con- 

 curred to produce death, the circumstances of their death without any other assignable 

 cause show how delicate they are. 



