MUD-SKIPPERS 377 



go off in a great leap in the hope of capturing an 

 insect, or in order to assault and dislodge one of 

 its neighbours who has secured a desirable watch- 

 tower. 



The multitudes of them, who swarm over the 

 muddy slopes of the larger tidal channels and 

 devious water-lanes of the outer Sundarbans, must 

 be seen to be imagined. Their habits differ 

 markedly in different areas within the Sundarbans. 

 A steamer in passing along a narrow channel 

 causes a very considerable displacement of the 

 surface of the water ; an initial depression and 

 indraught exposes great surfaces of the rnuddy 

 banks, and is followed by a series of huge rushing 

 waves that follow the vessel and wash up over 

 the slopes with enough force to knock all the 

 mud-skippers, who are taking an airing on them, 

 head over heels. The fish do not at all enjoy 

 such forced exercise, but in their endeavour to 

 avoid it, do not act alike everywhere. In completely 

 unreclaimed and uninhabited parts of the Sundar- 

 bans the approach of the waves is preceded by a 

 general and precipitate flight of mud-skippers, 

 hurrying up the slopes in order to get beyond the 

 reach of the threatening inundation ; but in channels 

 traversing cleared and partially cultivated areas, 

 the line of flight follows an opposite direction, and 

 the fish hasten down in order to reach the water 

 before it is disturbed. These differences of habit 



