The Basse. 475 



THE BASSE, OB SEA PERCH, (Labrax lupus,) 



Is found in abundance on our southern coasts, and is 

 still more common in the Mediterranean. It has one 

 long dorsal fin, like the ruffe. The flesh of this fish is 

 highly esteemed. 



The Climbing Perch, (Anabas scandens,) a native of 

 the fresh waters of India, possesses a very singular ap- 

 paratus for enabling it to quit the water, and pass a 

 considerable time on dry ground. This consists of a 

 curiously folded portion of thin bone on each side of the 

 head near the gills, in the cavities of which a good deal 

 of water is contained; this keeps the gills in a moist 

 state while the fish is out of the water, and thus enables 

 it to breathe in the air. This fish is said to employ its 

 singular power of quitting the water for the purpose of 

 climbing trees, although what it expects to gain by so 

 doing is quite unknown. Its power of climbing has 

 been denied by some naturalists, but Daldorf says that 

 he once caught one which had clambered to a height of 

 six feet on the stem of a palm, and was in the act of 

 going still higher. 



