258 " JUMPING JOHNNY." 



sun-birds of the forests. Those that live in shallow 

 water are brightly coloured, whilst those dwelling in the 

 high seas, out of soundings, are generally of a dull or 

 sombre hue. 



One of the greatest ichthyological oddities one meets 

 with in the tropics, is the close-eyed Gudgeon (Perioph- 

 thalmus). On every slimy bank, among the Mangrove 

 swamps, and on the muddy borders of ditches, the 

 curious eye will detect the shiny, uncouth form of this 

 grotesque, amphibious fish, jumping about like a frog, or 

 sliding awkwardly along on its belly, with a gliding 

 motion. It is equally at home on the " beached margent 

 of the sea," where it is seen skimming along the surface 

 of the water, or jumping and leaping from stone to 

 stone. By means of its pectoral fins it is enabled to 

 climb, with great facility, among the tangled roots of the 

 Mangroves, where it finds a goodly harvest of minute 

 Crustacea. Crabs and worms do not, however, constitute 

 its only food, for I have found in the stomachs of some 

 I examined, insects in both the imago and larval state. 



The sailors call the Periophtkamus " Jumping Johnny ", 

 and appear very much amused at its wary cunning, and 

 surprising efforts to escape capture. I have, however, seen 

 parties of Dyaks pursuing the larger species over the wide 

 mud-flats, and capture them with the greatest dexterity. 

 Many other fish, besides the Periophthalmus, have the same 

 power of living for a time out of their native element, 

 among which may be mentioned Ophiocephalus, Macro- 

 podus, Helostoma, Anabas, and Cafy 'acanthus. Pliny was 

 aware of this fact, which he thus alludes to, " Quin et in 



