THE CLIMBING PEECH. 327 



The Climbing Perch would, therefore, find it no diffi- 

 cult matter to obtain the small quantity of water 

 which is needful for filling its respiratory reservoir. 

 From this remarkable habit, the fish has received the 

 name of Paneiri, or Tree-climber. 



The life led by these fish during the dry season, 

 is very remarkable. They remain in their pools until 

 they are so far dried up that nothing but a little mud 

 is left at the bottom. They then find themselves 

 obliged to migrate in search of water j and always 

 choose the early morning for this purpose, so as to 

 avoid the hot rays of the sun. 



In these expeditions they can travel to great 

 distances, and will pass over very rough ground. The 

 worst part of their journey is always that which is 

 nearest the pool. The cattle and wild animals come 

 to drink, and, as the water is gradually dried up, they 

 have to wade through the mud, into which their feet 

 sink, leaving deep holes. The burning rays of the sun 

 soon dry the mud, and bake it into a mass nearly as 

 hard as brick ; beside breaking it into wide and deep 

 cracks. The fishes cannot avoid these cracks, and all that 

 they can do is to make their way in and out of them. 



Mr. Morris, who has supplied much useful informa- 

 tion on this subject, calculates that in travelling sixty 

 yards over this ground, the fishes had used sufficient 

 muscular exertion to have taken them half a mile over 

 level soil. Many of them lose their lives in these 

 pits ; not because they cannot climb out of them, but 

 because the crows, hawks, and other birds pounce 

 upon them while they are struggling to release them- 

 selves. 



