Capt. J. Mitchell on the Climbing Habits of 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, 
Puate XII. 
Fig. 1. Ammothoa brevipes. 
Fig. 2. Ditto, footjaw. 
Fig. 3. Ditto, tarsus, &e. 
Fig. 4. Ditto, side view. 
Fig. 5. Ammothoa longipes. 
3 
4 
5 
Fig. 6. Ditto, tarsus, &e. 
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. 
Piate XIII. 
Fig. 11. Achelia hispida. 
Fig. 12. Achelia levis. 
Fig. 13. Phowichilidium virescens. 
Fig. 14. Ditto, footjaws. 
Fig. 15. Ditto, tarsus, &c. 
Fig. 16. Pallene pygmea. 
Fig.17. Ditto, tarsus, &c. 
XIV.—On the Climbing Habits of Anabas scandens. By Capt. 
Jesse Mitcue .t, of the Madras Government Central Mu- 
seum. 
Tue following remarks on the Anabas scandens will be found at 
page 295, vol. ii., 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 
