MALAYAN FISHES. 47 
pines, attains a length of about half an inch and is believed to be 
the smallest known fish. 
The family is not of much economic importance at present 
and I have no personal knowledge of their edible qualities. 
Our most noteworthy species are the Bélontok (Hleotris mar- 
morata) the Bélodok (Gobius spp.), the Tembakul and Bélachak 
(Periophthalmus spp.). 
The Bélontok has already been alluded to as attaining a large 
size and not less than seven species are known to inhabit our 
waters, ; 
One of our Bélodok (G. butis) is said by Day to be much 
esteemed by the natives of India, as being very light and whole- 
some, but unless elaborately cooked is not relished by Europeans, 
because of its deficiency in, or earthy, taste. 
It attains a length of a foot and a half, takes a bait freely and 
is largely bred in tanks in India. 
The Témbakul and Bélachak will be familiar to most resi- 
dents in Malaya as the Mud-Skippers which may be seen disporting 
themselves on the mud and among the mangroves, along all our 
coasts and estuaries. 
Malays have told me that these fish are good eating and possess 
great medicinal virtues. 
They have verv conspicuous prominent eyes, which are capable 
of protrusion and retraction, and extraordinary muscular pectoral 
fins which thev use like arms for progression on mud and for 
climbing. 
Day writes. “ They climb on to trees, holding on by their 
pectoral fins exactly as if they were arms. Now and then they 
plant these firmly as organs of support, the same as one places 
one’s elbows on a table, then they raise their heads and take a 
deliberate survey of surrounding objects.” 
Saville-Kent is quoted by Stead as follows: 
“4 remarkable circumstance associated with the life 
economy of Periophthalmus is the fact that it cannot sustain 
life if continually water-submerged like ordinary fish. The 
exposure of its tissues to the action of atmospheric air with 
every fall of the tide appears to be essential to its well-being, 
and examples experimentally kept under water for prolonged 
intervals were literally drowned. 
“ As a provision for its abnormal life-habits, it has been 
ascertained that Periophthalmus possesses a supplementary 
respiratory organ which, singular to relate, is represented, in 
this instance, in the creature’s tail. 
“The fish while reposing on the surface of the mud com- 
monly leaves its tail more or less immersed in the water. The 
blood circulates with abnormal energy through this thin mem- 
branous appendage, which accordingly fulfils the function of a 
supplementary gill.” 
