FISHES. 245 



ing to several authors, of a ligEt yelloTV straw-color, firm and easy of digestion. 

 They vary in quality with the nature of the waters inhabited, those taken from 

 a rocky river being much superior to those from muddy ponds ; but those dwelling at 

 the mouth of rivers, where the water is to some extent brackish, are the best of all. 

 Again, they vary with age ; and the large, overgrown fishes are much less esteemed 

 than the small ones. They are in their prime when three years old. Dr. Vinson says 

 the flavor is somewhat like that of carp ; and, if this is so, we may entertain some 

 skepticism as to its superiority ; but the unanimous testimony in favor of its excellence 

 naturally leads to the belief that the comparison is unfair to the gourami. 



Numerous attempts have been made by the French to introduce the gourami into 

 their country, as well as into several of their provinces ; and, for a number of 

 years, consignments of the eggs, or the young, or adult fish, were made. Although 

 at last partially successful, the fish has never been domiciliated in the Republic, and, 

 indeed, it could not be reasonably expected that it would be, knowing, as we do, its 

 sensitiveness to cold, and the climates under which it thrives. 



The fish of paradise (Macrqpodus viridi-awatiis) is a species remarkable for its 

 beauty and the extension of its fins, and especially of the ventrals, which has obtained 

 for it the generic name Macropodiis. To some extent, this species has also been made 

 the subject of fish culture, but with reference to its beauty and exhibition in aquaria 

 and ponds, like the gold-fish, rather than for its food qualities. 



The only other fish of the family that needs mention is the fighting fish (^Setta 

 pugtiax). It is cultivated by the natives of Siam, and a special race seems to have 

 been the result of such cultivation. The fishes are kept in glasses of water, and fed, 

 among other things, with the larvae of mosquitoes, or other aquatic insects. " The 

 Siamese are as infatuated with the combats of these fish as the Malays are with their 

 cock-fights, and stake on the issue considerable sums, and sometimes their own persons 

 and families. The license to exhibit fish-fights is farmed, and brings a considerable 

 annual revenue to the king of Siam. The species abounds in the rivulets at the foot 

 of the hills of Penang. The inhabitants name it 'Pla-kat,' or the 'fighting fish.' " 



The name mullet has been given along the eastern coast of the United States, and, 

 indeed, in most other j)laces where English is spoken, to the Percesoces, which are 

 treated of under the name Mugilida (p. 179) ; but the mullet or mullus of the ancients 

 was a very different fish, and is the one which is now known under the name sur-muUet, 

 or red mullet. This is the type of a distinct family (Mullid^), of which a number 

 of species, chiefly inhabiting the tropical seas, are known ; the sur-mullet, or common 

 species of Europe, being the most northern member. All the species have a moderately 

 long, compressed body, which declines backwards from the shoulders, and is covered 

 with large scales ; an oblong head, more or less abruptly decurved in front of the 

 eyes ; varying dentition ; two dorsal fins, the first with seven or eight spines, the 

 second distant from it and like the anal — both oblong ; and the ventral fins are some- 

 what pointed and compressed, and have each a spine and five rays. The chief distinc- 

 tive feature, however, is the presence of two barbels behind the chin. The color in 

 most all is more or less reddish, or approaching to reddish. 



The sur-mullet {Mullus barbatus), was held in high esteem among the ancient 

 Romans, and they placed it above all other fishes, with the exception, perhaps, of the 

 scarus ; as we learn from ancient satirical poets, as well as historians, enormous prices 

 were paid for a fine fish, and it was the fashion to bring the fish into the dining-room 

 and exhibit it alive before the assembled guests, so that they might gloat over the bril- 



