352 Dr. A. Giinther on the British Species of Mugil. 



" There is, however, another point of view in which the col- 

 lection possesses a very peculiar attraction — the probability that 

 the fishes composing it, though natives of the ocean, actually 

 become naturalized in fresh or nearly fresh water, and are thus 

 preserved and improved for the use of man. It is not a little 

 extraordinary that a fact of so much importance to the comforts 

 and even the necessities of life should have been brought but 

 recently under the notice of the civilized people of Europe, 

 while to the uncultivated inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands it 

 has probably been long and practically known. It forms, in- 

 deed, a very important part of the employment of the common 

 people to search among the pools left by the retiring tide for 

 the smaller fry which may be there retained, and to convey 

 them to ponds, in which in a short time they increase to a size 

 fit for the table/' 



Yet, although I consider the acclimatization of foreign species 

 of fishes as a matter of subordinate value from a practical point 

 of view, it is a problem of high scientific importance, because it 

 involves the solution of the question, how far the power of man 

 is able to interfere with the original distribution of fishes ? It 

 would far exceed the limits of this paper if I were to enter into 

 proposals or conjectures on the experiments by which we might 

 hope to solve a portion of that problem. It may suffice if I 

 venture to offer an opinion to those who are particularly in- 

 terested in the subject, namely, that for the first experiment a 

 species ought to be chosen from a climate similar to that of 

 England ; that no other species can be recommended with better 

 right than the TFels of the Continent [Silurus glanis) ; that if 

 the experiments should be extended to tropical species, fishes 

 from the family of the Labyrinthici ought to be selected, be- 

 cause they are very tenacious of life and can live without water 

 for days. The Goranii {Osphromenus olfax), one of the best 

 freshwater fishes of the tropics, growing to the weight of ten 

 to fifteen pounds, and already introduced in Mauritius and 

 Cayenne, the Climbing Perch [Anabas scandens), and the Pla 

 Kat of the Siamese [Betta pugnax), would deserve the first at- 

 tention*. 



* The two latter species would be fishes of luxury, like Gold-fish. 

 The Pla Kat, which also occurs in the Malayan Peninsula, is, according 

 to Dr. Cantor, a great favourite with the Siamese. They keep them like 

 Gold-fish, and produce several varieties, one of which has great fighting 

 propensities. " The Siamese are as infatuated with the combats of these 

 fishes as the Malays are with their cock-fights, and stake considerable 

 sums, and sometimes their own persons and their families. The license of 

 exhibiting fish-fights is farmed, and affords a considerable annual revenue 

 to the King of Siam." — Cant. Catal. p. 8/. 



