AN ABAS. MUGILIDJE OR MULLETS. BLENNIES. 37 



tries there are many situations, in which there is an ample 

 supply both of food and water for Fish during the rainy season ; 

 but a complete deficiency of both, when this is succeeded by the 

 periodical drought. Such receptacles can only be tenanted 

 by Fish, which, like the Anabas, are furnished with the 

 peculiar pharyngeal apparatus (Fig. 260) for keeping the gills 

 moist ; since, when one pond or stream is dried up, they can 

 migrate in search of another. In the course of these journeys, 

 they climb up steep banks, and even trees ; and by a remark- 

 able instinct, they seem always to travel towards the nearest 

 water. This family contains a considerable number of genera, 

 all of which are inhabitants of fresh-water ; none have been 

 hitherto found except in the south-east of Asia and the adjacent 

 islands, and in Southern Africa. 



562. This family is succeeded by that of MUGILLIXE, or the 

 true Mullets ; which are distinguished by several remarkable 

 peculiarities of structure. Their body is nearly cylindrical, and 

 is covered with large scales ; the head is broad and flat, and is 

 covered with large angular scaly plates ; and the stomach is fur- 

 nished with fleshy walls, giving it a resemblance to the gizzard 

 of a Bird. The Mullets associate in large shoals, and chiefly 

 inhabit the mouths of rivers, where they are often seen making 

 high leaps. They feed upon small Crabs and other Crustacea, which 

 they swallow entire ; and the almost total want of teeth is com- 

 pensated by the powerful gizzard, which serves to grind down 

 their food. The Grey Mullet is one of those fishes, which, 

 habitually living at the mouths of rivers, where the salt and 

 fresh waters mix, will thrive well in the latter alone. 



563. "We may next mention the BLENNIDJE, or Blennies, 

 which are elongated Fishes, having a single dorsal fin, almost 

 entirely supported upon simple flexible rays. The ventral fins are 

 placed in front of the pectorals, and have only two or three rays in 

 each. They live in small troops near the coast ; and they can ex- 

 ist for some time without water (their gill openings beiog small), 

 especially if kept in moist grass. Many of this family retain 

 their eggs until they are hatched within the oviduct ; so that the 

 young are produced alive, fully formed, and capable of subsisting 



