Capt. J. Mitchell on the Climbing Habits 0/ Anabas scandens. 117 



sure, to the difficulty of determining the species^ in consequence 

 of there being no complete list. It is hoped that the foregoing 

 may in some degree supply this want, and lead to these animals 

 being better known and understood. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



Plate XIL 



Fig. 1 . Ammothoa brevipes. 



Fig. 2. Ditto, footjaw. 



Fig. 3. Ditto, tarsus, &c. 



Fig. 4. Ditto, side view. 



Fig. 5. Ammothoa longipes. 



Fig. 6, Ditto, tarsus, &c. 



Fig. 7. Achelia echinata. 



Fig. 8. Ditto, side view. 



Fig. 9. Ditto, rostrum, palpi, and oculiferous tubercle. 



Fig. 10. Ditto, tip of false foot of female. 



Plate XIIL 



Fig.W. Achelia hispida. 



Fig. 12. Achelia Icevis. 



Fig. 13. Phoxichilidium virescens. 



Fig. 14. Ditto, footjaws. 



Fig. 15. Ditto, tarsus, &c. 



Fig. 16, Pallene pygmcea. 



Fig. \7. Ditto, tarsus, &c. 



XIV. — On the Climbing Habits 0/ Anabas scandens. By Capt. 

 Jesse Mitchell, of the Madras Government Central Mu- 

 seum. 

 The following remarks on the Anabas scandens will be found at 

 page 295, vol. iii., of the Rev. J. G. Wood's 'Illustrated Natural 

 History,' published by Messrs. Routledge & Co. last year : — 



" Some writers say this fish is capable of climbing palm-trees 

 in search of the water that lodges between the bases of the dead 

 leaves and the stem ; but this account is now held unworthy of 

 belief." 



My object in writing this paper is to show that this account 

 is not unworthy of belief, and that, however strange and unna- 

 tural it may appear, the Anabas scandens does in reality ascend 

 palm-trees ; but I am not prepared to say that it goes in search 

 of water. Yet who knows ? The fish may be enough of an 

 epicure to prefer the pure rain-water to the muddy water found 

 in the pools and streams after heavy monsoon rain ; for it is at 

 such times it is said to take this wonderful journey. But to my 

 evidence. 



A short time ago I was putting up a few freshwater fish to be 



