THE IMPENETRABLE SEA 



German explorer Lieutenant Daldorf some years ago, 

 when he was fortunate enough to observe one of the 

 fish making its way up the trunk of a Palmyra palm. 

 Since then many naturahsts and other observers have 

 witnessed to the truth of the fact that fishes do climb 

 trees. 



The late Dr. Nelson Annandale, of the Indian Museum 

 in Calcutta, described another climbing-fish, which often 

 hitches its way up the supporting posts of wooden houses 

 built over the shore-waters of lakes, in the following 

 words : "This little fish moves slowly up the post, brows- 

 ing on encrusting plants and animals. It seems to use its 

 tail in climbing, after a fashion which recalls the wood- 

 pecker's way of pressing its stiff tail-feathers against the 

 roughness of the tree-stem. When the little fish wishes to 

 rest on its ascent, it takes a firm hold with its lips." 



An official of the Madras Fisheries once trained some 

 climbing-fish to ascend a nearly vertical sheet of cloth 

 dipped into the water of the aquarium in which they 

 lived. Indian jugglers sometimes use the snake-head in 

 their performances : the antics of the fish being calculated 

 to preserve their reputations as "miracle men" and 

 amuse their audiences. 



There are other authentic descriptions of the way fish 

 climb trees, in addition to the one given by Dr. Annan- 

 dale. It is now certain that such fishes make use of their 

 gill-covers, besides their spiny anal fins and tails, in 

 making their ascents. These gill-covers are peculiarly 

 constructed, so that each opercular bone has a serrated 

 edge, which clings tenaciously to surfaces yet can be 

 instantaneously released : a perfect device for its purpose. 

 It works like a leg, being first extended by certain 

 muscles and attached to the tree, and then (after the 

 fish's body has been raised a little) the other parts of the 

 fish take hold and the opercular bone is released, ready 

 for attachment again. 



This is an extraordinary instance of the use of an 



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