292 POPULAR HISTORY OF THE AQl'ARIUM. 



another species. The breathing apparatus is compHcated, 

 and^ besides internal^ there are two external gills exserted 

 from behind, and above the exsertioii of the front pair of 

 limbs. The head is not so snub, nor the aspect so fero- 

 cious, as the recently published figure makes them appear. 

 On looking at the figure too, one would be at a loss to 

 assign any particular function to these limbs ; but on seeing 

 them in action, their use is apparent, and I overheard a 

 Prenchwoman pronounce them to be ^' nageoires." Very 

 good " nageoires '' they certainly are, besides being well 

 adapted for cutting through the mud in which this fish loves 

 to reside. 



The Mud-fish moves freely and gracefully in the water, 

 sometimes coming to the surface to obtain a supply of air, 

 and feeding upon small animals. The nostrils open within 

 the mouth. There were three specimens brought to Eng- 

 land from the Eiver Gambia, enclosed in balls of hard clay, 

 in which they had been buried for eight months, without 

 any communication with the air. When the balls of clay 

 were put into water, they cracked and broke. In the middle 

 of these balls were discovered dark-coloured oval bags, 

 which, afterwards bursting, liberated their inmates. These 

 immediately swam about and were quite ready to break their 



