ACANTHOPTERYGII. 107 



retain water for some time to moisten the gills when 

 out of water, many of the species having the sin- 

 gular faculty of quitting their native element, and 

 crawling about to a considerable distance. From 

 their being thus found in dry situations, the natives 

 of the Indian coasts believe them to fall from heaven. 

 The Snakeheads (Ophicephalus*) in particular are 

 noted for this peculiarity, being often exhibited by 

 the Indian jugglers, and made to crawl for the 

 amusement of spectators. 



FAM. XI. MUGILID.E. 



The Grey Mullets (Mugil f ) have a cylindrical 

 body, clothed with large scales; two dorsals wide 

 apart ; ventrals behind the pectorals ; a head some- 

 what flattened, and an under lip rising to an angle 

 in the middle, corresponding to a depression in the 

 upper ; six gill rays. Two or three species are 

 taken on our own coast, and in our rivers, as they 

 are fond of coming into the fresh water. This 

 habit suggested the rearing of some young fry 

 in fresh water wholly, an experiment which was 

 perfectly successful, resulting in the superior size, 

 weight, and fatness of the fish. Mr. Couch, as 

 quoted by Mr. Yarrell, has given the habits of the 

 commonest species, (Mugil Capito,} in a very inter- 

 esting manner. " This fish never goes to a great 



* ' Op/?, ophis, a serpent, and xnfnn^, kepJiale, the head, 

 t Muyil, the Latin name of these fishes. 



