THE LABYRINTH-GILLED FISHES 



2783 



Paradise Fish 



The Oriental region is the home of another allied genus of fishes 

 {Polyacanthus) represented by several species, and differing from the 

 climbing perch by the absence of teeth on the palate, and the smooth margins of 

 the preorbital and opercular bones; the mouth being small and slightly protractile. 

 The spinous part of the single dorsal fin is much longer than the soft portion, the 

 anal being similar; the pelvic fins have one spine and five soft rays, some of which 

 are usually elongated; and the caudal is rounded or pointed. The lateral line, 

 which is never complete, may be wanting. These fishes inhabit fresh waters and 

 estuaries along the coast of Southeastern Asia, but are seldom found any great dis- 

 tance inland. The pretty and brightly-colored paradise fish is an inhabitant of 



THE GURAMI. 

 (One-fifteenth natural size.) 



China and Cochin-China, and was long regarded as the representative of a distinct 

 genus. It is, however, now known to be merely a domesticated variety of a species 

 of Poly acanthus, although we are not aware that the normal form has hitherto been 

 discovered. From our figure it will be seen that it differs from the ordinary mem- 

 bers of the genus in the large and forked tail, and likewise in the great develop- 

 ment of the soft rays of the dorsal and anal fins. Throughout China this fish is 

 kept in confinement; and is even more suited to captivity than the goldfish, as it will 

 breed in vessels of very small capacity. It is even stated to live in water strongly 

 impregnated with acid, and its tenacity of life is very great. When kept in dark or 

 muddy waters the color is generally a dull uniform brown ; and it is only when liv- 

 ing in clear water, exposed to the sunlight, that the golden hue and red transverse 



