FAMILY XXXVIII.— LABYRINTHICI. 369 



Family, XXXYIII— LABYRmTHICI, pt, Cuvier. 



Anabamtidm, pt., Richardson ; SpiwhramcMdce, pt., Swainson ; LalyrintMbrancMi, pt., Owen. 

 Osphromenoidei, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals from four to six: pseudobranchisB rudimentary or absent. Gills four. Body 

 compressed, oblong, or elevated. Eyes lateral. Gill-opening rather narrow, the membranes united below 

 the isthmus. Above the third or upper portion of the first branchial arch exists a cavity, in which is 

 contained an elaborate apparatus consisting of thin laminae of bone, covered by a vascular mucous membrane, 

 and which is employed for respiratory purposes.* The number of dorsal and anal spines variable : ventrals 

 thoracic. Scales ctenoid and of moderate size. Lateral-line interrupted or absent. Air-vessel present 

 or absent. Pyloric appendages when present few. 



Professor Peters (Monats. Aiad. Berlin, 1868, p. 259) includes Ophiooephalidoe and Litciocephalidce 

 in this Family. 



Geographical distribution. — Fresh water and estuary fishes of Asia and South Africa. They are capable 

 of living a considerable period out of their natural element, as they are able to respire atmospheric air, either 

 directly or else in solution in water. They consist of both vegetable and animal feeders, are often domesticated 

 and acclimatized in other countries. When domesticated they are subject to considerable variations in form, 

 also in the number of their spines and rays. 



Uses. — All are considered as good for eating, some are even reputed to have medicinal stimulating 

 properties, whilst due to their living long after removal from the water, they are capable of being brought 

 to the markets in a fresh and wholesome condition. 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. 

 A. Teeth on the palate. 



1. Anabas. Opercles and preorbital serrated: vomerine teeth. India, Burma, Ceylon, and the East. 



B. Fixed teeth in the jaws, palate edentulous. 



2. PolyacantTius. Dorsal and anal spines numerous : ventrals long : caudal rounded. India and Ceylon. 



3. Osphromerms. Dorsal spines in varying numbers (2-13), as are also the anal (7-14) : outer 

 ventral ray filiform. India, China, and the East. 



4. Trichogaster. Yentral fin a single filiform ray. India. 



Genus, 1 — Anabas, Cuvier. 



BramcMostegals six : pseudobrancMce absent. Swperbranchial organ well-developed.-f Branchial a/rches with 

 toothed tubercles. Mouth rather small. Opercles and preorbital serrated. Teeth villiform in jaws amd on the 

 a/nterior and ^posterior extremities of the vomer : noneon the palatines. Borsaljm single, the spinous portion of greater 

 extent thorn the soft : anal spines numerous, but less than those of the dorsal. Scales ctenoid, rather large. Lateral- 

 line interrupted. Air-vessel bifid posteriorly with either extremity produced. Pyloric appendages few or absent. 



■ Geographical distribution. — Fresh water and estuary fishes. They are found from India to the Malay 

 Archipelago' and the Philippine Islands. They are most numerous in the Maritime provinces, and the 

 deltas of the larger rivers. 



Uses. — The fishes of this genus rarely exceed eight inches in length, but are highly esteemed as 

 nourishing food, whilst owing to their vitality being very great, they can be conveyed alive for long distances. 

 The boatmen on the Ganges carry them in moist earthem pots, killing and cooking them as required. They are 

 rather voracious fishes, readily taking a worm as a bait. 



These fishes have been reputed to climb trees, and Lieutenant Daldorf reported having captured one five 

 feet from the ground, from the cleft of a palmira tree, the leaves of which commence from the bottom of its 

 stem. They migrate during the rainy season from pond to pond : and have also been found sestivating during 

 the hot months. ■. i • i ■ 



Accidents are constantly occurring, due to native fishermen killing these fishes by breaking their 

 vertebral column by a bite, as is done by sportsmen in Europe by striking their heads against their boot. Whilst 

 the fish is in the fisherman's mouth for this humane purpose (as it is covered by a slimy, slippery secretion) ,_ it 

 occasionally slips into his throat, and then owing to its spiny character it cannot be withdrawn without extensive 

 laceration of the patient's mouth. Although the following treatment may appear somewhat disgusting it is 



* Obser^atioDB on this mode of respiration are deferred mtil the SilwidcB come under consideration. • , j 



t The superbranchial organ consists of thin hony laminse placed one above the other, decreasing in size superiorly, and 

 increasing in number with age. At first the edges of these laminas are smooth, but as the fish get older they become undulated. 



o B 



