242 FISHES. 



the grass or on the land. Those that possess the labyrinthiform 

 arrangement in its highest degree of complication (Anabas, Perca 

 scandens), not only remain a long time out of the water, but also, 

 as we are told, climb trees. Most of the fishes of this family in- 

 habit India and China. 



FIG. 251. THE MACKEREL. 



The tribe of Mackerels (Scomberoids) is the most important 

 of the Order. It comprises many fishes of considerable size, the 

 flesh of which is excellent, and their fecundity so inexhaustible, 

 that in spite of the continued destruction to which they are sub- 

 ject, they return yearly in immense legions to the same localities, 

 and offer themselves a rich reward to the activity of fishermen 

 and the industry of those who make it a business to prepare and 

 preserve them. In general, the Scomberoids have very small 

 scales, and a large part of their skin is smooth. They have no 

 spines nor denticulations upon the opercular bones ; their vertical 

 fins are not scaly ; the tail and caudal fin are large and very 

 vigorous. Most of them have the sides of the tail armed with 

 broad shield-like plates ; and in many, the posterior rays of the 

 second dorsal and anal fins are separated into distinct portions, 

 and form so many false or spurious fins. 



Those which possess these last characters, and have the dorsal 

 fin continuous, form the family of 



