10 FISHERIES OF THE ORIENTAL REGION, 



In the Malayan rivers the species are particularly abundant, and 

 some attain a length of two feet. Though not belonging to the 

 Siluroids, they are able to survive long droughts by lying in semi- 

 fluid mud ; "or in a torpid state below the hard baked crusts of 

 the bottom of a tank, from which every drop of water has disap- 

 peared." They are so truly important in the Indian region that 

 some length of detail in their description may be permitted. 



The curious name given to these fishes by Bloch is obviously 

 from their resemblance, in the head at least, to serpents. The 

 body is almost cylindrical anteriorly, with a depressed head, having 

 plate-like scales above. Cuvier remarked that if it were possible 

 to admit such anomalous beings in nature, these strange fishes 

 might be justly considered half fish and half serpents. Having 

 hollow cavities in their heads and means for respiring air, they 

 can live long out of the water and even travel over the ground, 

 especially when it is moist. It is no uncommon sight in India 

 and in China to see them called upon by jugglers and children to 

 exhibit their skill in crawling. This they do in a serpentine 

 manner, using their pectoral and caudal fins alternately like feet. 

 They easily escape from aquaria unless the top is covered.* 



The Malays call these Suakeheads Ikan-haruan ; the Chinese 

 call them Shang-yu, and carry them alive in pails of water, cutting 

 slices from them as they are sold ; a process which I have seen in 

 many parts of China, practised on various kinds of fishes. They 

 breed in grassy swamps or the edges of tanks, in well-walls and 

 holes in river banks. One is said to build a nest among the 

 vegetation near the edges of tanks, using its tail in building, and 

 biting off the ends of the weeds. The male fish keeps guard over 

 the ova, and the fry are nursed until old enough to get their own 

 living. If they don't clear out then, they are sometimes remorse- 

 lessly eaten. The young, as a rule, are more or less orange or 

 scarlet, with longitudinal bands which disappear as they grow older. 



* For information about the habits of these fishes the author is indebted 

 to Cantor, Giinther, Bleeker, and Day. 



