ANIMALS AS PRIZE-FIGHTERS 33 



veritable gladiators amongst fishes, but certain 

 species known as fighting-fishes, found in Japan and 

 Siam, exhibit such a pugnacious disposition that 

 when two of them are placed together in a bowl of 

 water they commence to attack one another with 

 great fury. Indeed, this trait in their character is 

 so pronounced that the inhabitants of those parts 

 keep the fishes for the sole purpose of engaging them 

 in fight with those of their neighbours, large sums 

 of money being wagered upon the results of the com- 

 bats, and, according to reports, the families of their 

 owners being, at times, also staked upon the issue. 

 In Siam it is necessary to obtain a licence from the 

 Grovernment before indulging in the sport, and the 

 revenue received from this source amounts to a 

 considerable sum during the course of a year. The 

 fighting-fishes are quite small, and when fully grown 

 measure about three or four inches in length. 

 Cantor, in his description of the species, writes : — 

 ' When the fish is in a state of quiet, its duU colours 

 present nothing remarkable ; but if two be brought 

 together, or if one sees its own image in a looking- 

 glass, the little creature becomes suddenly excited, 

 the raised fin and the whole body shine with metallic 

 colours of dazzling beauty. ... In this state it 

 makes repeated darts at its real or reflected an- 

 tagonist.' 



The mantes, soothsayers, or praying-insects as 

 they are variously called — the latter term referring 

 to the curious posture they assume when at rest 

 with their fore-legs folded up in front of them i" a 

 devotional attitude — are of an even more blood- 



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