THE LABYRINTH-GILLED FISHES 



2781 



In form the body is compressed and oblong; the lateral line is interrupted; the single 

 dorsal fin has its spinous portion much longer than the soft part, while in the anal 

 fin the spines are less numerous than those on the back. The caudal fin is rounded, 

 and the scales are rather large. In length the climbing perch may reach at least 

 eight and one-half inches, and in the adult state its general color is dark green, usu- 

 ally marked with dusky bands, which disappear soon after death. It frequents estau- 



CLIMBING PERCH ON LAND 

 (One-half natural size.) 



ries, rivers, and tanks, and is distributed over India, Ceylon, Burma, the Malay Archi- 

 pelago, and the Philippine Islands. That this fish can travel long distances on land, 

 where it drags itself along by hitching its pectoral fins round the stems of grass and 

 other herbage, in the manner indicated in our illustration, is perfectly-well ascer- 

 tained. With regard to its climbing powers some amount of incredulity has been 

 expressed, but it is very noteworthy that its Malayan name (undi-colli) signifies 

 tree climber, while nearly a thousand years ago certain Arab travelers were informed 



