82 COMPARISONS OF STEUCTUEE IN ANIMALS, 



live for many days out of its element. On the 

 land, it creeps along by means of its ventral and 

 pectoral fins, almost like a small quadruped, the 

 latter, which are placed in this fish posteriorly to 

 the ventral, serving the ofiice of hinder feet.* 



How different in their structure and uses are 

 the short, stout, arm-like fins of these fishes, 

 from the expanded wing-like pectorals of the 

 Indian flying gurnard, (Dactylopterus orientalis,) 

 and the flying fish ! {Eixocetus volitans.) The 



* There are in India and China, certain fishes of tlie genus 

 ophicephalus, which are to a great extent terrestrial in their 

 habits. The gill-chambers are so constructed as to hold a con- 

 siderable quantity of water ; and thus provided with a due sup- 

 ply, these fishes perform overland journeys of considerable ex- 

 tent; travelling to a great distance, by means of their fins, from 

 their native water. The boatmen in India keep these fishes to 

 make a show, and amuse spectators. Other fishes display the 

 same habits. The T^3Me\r\(Anabas lestudineus) oilriAia, is said 

 not only to leave the water, but to climb the slirubs along the 

 margin of the river; and the gouranii ( Osphromenus ulj'ax) of 

 the Isle of France, but originally from China, leaves the pond 

 or lake, conies on shore and digs a furrow in tlio sand for the 

 reception of its eggs. This fish equals a turbot in size, and is 

 excellent for the table. Terrestrial fishes were not unknown to 

 the ancients. Theophrastus, in his treatise on fishes living on 

 shore, speaks of certain species wliich leave the rivers for a con- 

 siderable lengili of time, and then return. He says that they 

 resemble mullets. Cuvier places the fishes to which we have 

 alluded, in a distinct family, of the spiiie-iinued section, charac- 

 terized by the peculiar structure of the gill-chambcrs. 



In noticing these fishes, we are reminded of the land-crabs of 

 the West Indies and of India, whicli live in burrows, and only 

 occasionally visit the water; of these the violet-crab, or touloiirou, 

 of the West Indies, is well known as a^elicacy. 



