Labyrinthici and Holconoti 369 
(Panicum jumentorum) which grows on the surface of the water, 
and whose floating roots, rising and falling with the movements 
of the water, form natural galleries, under which the fish can 
conceal themselves. In one of the corners of the pond, among 
the plants which grow there, the gouramis attach their nest, 
which is of a nearly spherical form, and composed of plants 
and mud, and considerably resembles in form those of some 
birds. 
“The gourami is omnivorous, taking at times flesh, fish, frogs, 
insects, worms, and many kinds of vegetables; and on account 
of its omnivorous habit, it has been called by the French colo- 
nists of Mauritius pore des riviéres, or ‘water-pig.’ It is, how- 
ever, essentially a vegetarian, and its adaptation for this diet 
is indicated by the extremely elongated intestinal canal, which 
is many times folded upon itself. It is said to be especially 
fond of the leaves of several araceous plants. Its flesh is, 
according to several authors, of a light-yellow 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 brack- 
ish, 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. Vin- 
son 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 natu- 
rally 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 least 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 (Macropodus viridi-auratus) is a species 
remarkable for its beauty and the extension of its fins, and 
1I—24 
