THE BAND-FISH. 



297 



plates are arranged in a cavity above the gills, thus retaining a sufficient supply of 

 water between the lamina. In the present genus, however, there are none of these 

 laminae, but the water is retained in a simple cavity which communicates with the gills. 



Of this family, the CORA-MOTA, or GACHUA (Ophiocephalus gachud), is a good 

 example. 



This fish is a native of the fresh waters of Eastern India and its archipelago, and in 

 its general shape and movements is so very snake-like that Europeans will seldom eat 

 it. The Cora-mota is common in the ponds and dykes of Bengal ; and is one of the 

 fish popularly supposed to be rained from the clouds, as it is generally to be found on 

 the grass after a heavy shower. However this maybe in other instances, it is tolerably 

 clear that the Cora-mota has been in concealment during the drought, and ventures 

 into the fresh wet grass as a welcome change from the muddy ditches in which it has 

 been forced to reside. It can also find a plentiful supply of food on the moist herb- 

 age ; and as on account of its peculiar formation it is able to move on land with con- 

 siderable ease, its migrations will often extend to considerable distances. 



The Cora-mota is remarkably tenacious of life, and can survive the severest wounds 

 for a wonderfully long period. The natives of India take advantage of this peculiarity, 

 and with the disregard of inflicting torture that seems to be inherent in the Oriental 

 mind, are in the habit of selling the fish piecemeal, and cutting it up for sale while 

 still living. Indeed, the habitues of the market will not pay the best price if the fish 

 does not flinch from the knife. 



The color of this species is brown crossed with several dark bars. Its length seldom 

 exceeds a foot. 



ANOTHER species of this genus, the BARCA {Ophiocephalus barca}, is a much hand- 

 somer fish, attains a considerable size, and is considered to be useful for the table. 

 This fish is one of the mud-lovers, living for the most part in holes excavated in the 

 banks of Indian rivers, and only putting out its head in search of prey. 



The color of this species is violet spotted profusely with black, and the fins are 

 marked with sundry bold bars and dots. In length it often attains three feet. 



THE remarkable BAND-FISH, or SNAKE-FISH (Cepola rubescens), is a British example 

 of a curious family, consisting of one genus only, and about seven species. 



The Band-fish is not uncommon in the Mediterranean, though it is seldom taken off 

 the English coasts. Its body is long and much compressed, like that of the vaagmar, 

 already described ; and when winding its way through the translucent water, its carmine 

 body with the glittering scaly mail have earned for it the popular names of FIRE-FLAME 

 and RED RIBAND. 



Little is known of its habits, except that it is a shcre-loving fish, delighting to bask 

 under the heavy masses of sheltering seaweed, and that it feeds mostly on molluscs 

 and Crustacea. Several specimens of this fish have been found on the beach after a 

 storm ; and Mr. Yarrell remarks, with some acumen, that all the fish formed after this 

 pattern, with their compressed bodies affording little resistance to the water, and their 

 length preventing the concentration of muscular force upon a single centre of motion, 

 are ill fitted for combating tempestuous waters, and are flung about at the mercy of the 

 waves. 



The head of the Band-fish is small, and the eye is full and very large, its diameter 

 being nearly half the depth of the head. The body is greatly compressed, slender, and 

 very smooth ; the scales being minute and glittering in the sunbeams. The dorsal fin 

 extends from the top of the head to the end of the tail, and the anal fin is nearly as 

 long. Its color is rather variable, shades of purple and orange exhibiting themselves 

 in certain specimens. In all examples, however, red is the predominant hue. The 

 length of the adult Band-fish is usually about fifteen or twenty inches. 



IN the curious species which belong to the genus Centriscidae, or spike-bearing fishes, 

 the body is much compressed, and one of the spines of the first dorsal fin is long, sharp, 

 and powerful. The bones which form the front of the head are greatly prolonged, and 



