BONY FISHES AND GANOIDS. 483 



for fishes of this group. During seasons of drought the serpent-heads bury 

 themselves in mud ; and when living in muddy waters they are in the 

 habit of coming from time to time to the surface to gulp down a mouth- 

 ful of air. 



The famous climbing-perch (Anabas scandens) of the Oriental region, 

 which has given rise to so many stories, true and false, is the type of a small 

 section characterised by the possession of an accessory 

 breathing-organ situated in a cavity on each si^e of the Section Labyrin- 

 head above the gill-chamber. In both families of the thici. Family 

 section the body is compressed, and oblong or deep in form, Anabantidce. 

 with the investing scales of moderate size. In the first of 

 the two families spines are present in the dorsal and anal fins, although their 

 number is variable ; while the lateral line is either interrupted or altogether 

 absent, and the aperture of the gills is small. Like those of the next family, 

 these fishes are inhabitants of fresh or brackish waters, and are able to exist 

 for a considerable time out of water, where they breathe by means of the 

 special organ. There are several genera, such as Anabas (climbing-perch), 

 PolyacanthuSy Osphromenus (gurami), and Betta, all of which are confined to 

 the Oriental region and Tropical and South Africa. The Malayan gurami is 

 a deep-bodied fish marked with vertical stripes, and with one of the rays of 

 the pelvic fins greatly elongated. On account of the excellent quality of its 

 flesh, it has been introduced into several districts in India, where it thrives 

 well. The climbing-perch is a less deep and more uniformly coloured fish, 

 with no elongation of the pelvic rays, and a taller dorsal fin. During dry 

 seasons it will bury itself in the mud, but more frequently appears to 

 migrate to ponds which are capable of withstanding the drought. On land 

 it travels by using its pectoral fins as legs, fixing these on the further side of 

 such objects as are capable of affording a sufficient fulcrum. One instance at 

 least is on record of these fishes having been taken high up on a palm tree. 

 The reader may well wonder as to the object of such an ascent, but it 

 appears the fish make for the moisture often to be found in the hollows of 

 such trees. The Oriental genus Polyacanthus is best known by the domesti- 

 cated and beautifully coloured Chinese paradise-fish, which, from long culti- 

 vation has altered considerably from the original parent form. Another 

 member of the family which has long been domesticated is the Siamese 

 fighting-fish (Betta pugnax). In common with the Malays, the Siamese are 

 inveterate gamblers, and in this instance they stake their money on the 

 fighting endurance of their favourite fish. The fish themselves are by no 

 means loth to afford their masters as much sport as possible, and whereas 

 when alone their colours are dull, directly an opponent is seen, the whole 

 body assumes a brilliant metallic lustre. Even a mirror is stated to be suffi- 

 cient to arouse the pugnacious propensities of these fish, which will then dart 

 forwards against their own image. 



The second family of the section is represented by the small fresh- water 

 Malayan fish known as the pike-head (Luciocephalus pulcher), and sufficiently 

 distinguished from the preceding family by the presence of 

 a complete lateral line, the protruded jaws, and the general Family Lucio- 

 pike-like form of the head and body. The tail is rounded, cephalidce. 

 the dorsal fin is single, and, like the anal, devoid of 

 spines; the pelvic fins comprise one spine and five rays, and the eyes are 

 large. 



The fishes of this and the next section are amply characterised by their 



