MALAYAN IRISHES. 47 



pines, attains a length of about half an inch and is believed to be 

 the smallest known fish. 



The family is not of nineh economic importance at present 

 •and I have no personal knowledge of their edible qualities. 



Our most noteworthy species are the Belontok (Eleotris mar- 

 moiuta) tlie Belodok {Gobivs sp)3.), the Tembakul and Belachak 

 '{PerioplitJialmus spp.). 



The Belontok has already been alluded to as attaining a large 

 size and not less than seven species are known to inhabit our 

 waters. 



One of our Belodok (G. hutis) is said by Day to be much 

 ■esteemed l)y the natives of India, as being very light and whole- 

 some, but unless elaborately cooked is not relished l)y Europeans, 

 because of its deficiency in, or earthv, taste. 



It attains a length of a foot and a half, takes a bait freely and 

 is largely bred in tanks in India. 



The Tembakul and Belachak will be familiar to most resi- 

 dents in Malaya as the Mud-Skip])ers which may l^e seen disporting 

 themselves on the mud and among the mangroves, along all our 

 <3oasts and estuaries. 



■Malays have told me that these fish are good eating and possess 

 great medicinal virtues. 



They have very conspicuous prominent eyes, which are capable 

 ■of protrusion and retraction, and extraordinary muscular pectoral 

 fins which they use like arms for progression on mud and for 

 ■climbing. 



Day writes. " They climli on to trees, holding on by their 

 pectoral fins exactly as if they w'ere arms. Xow and then they 

 plant these firmly as organs of support, the same as one places 

 one's elljows on a table, then they raise their heads and take a 

 deliberate survey of surrounding objects." 



Saville-lvent is quoted by Stead as follows : 



" A remarkable circumstance associated with the life 

 economy of Periophtludmus is the fact that it cannot sustain 

 life if continually water-snbmerged like ordinary fish. The 

 exposure of its tissues to the action of atmospheric air with 

 everv fall of the tide appears to be essential to its well-being, 

 and examples experimentally kept under water for prolonged 

 intervals were literally drowned. 



" As a provision for its abnormal life-habits, it has been 

 ascertained that PeriophtJiahnus possesses a sup'plementary 

 respiratory organ which, sins'ular to relate, is represented, in 

 this instance, in the creature's tail. 



" The fish while reposing on the surface of the mud com- 

 monly leaves its tail more or less immersed in the water. The 

 blood circulates with abnormal energy through this thin mem- 

 branous appendage, which accordingly fulfils the function of a 

 supplementary gill." 



