THE TRUE FISHES. 185 
firis as feet. Daldorf, the Danish naturalist, captured an anabas climb- 
ing a palm—the dovassus. This latter performance, however, is not a 
habit of the fish. 
Allied’ to the Anabas is the. Gourami, a valued food- 
fish, that, though originally from the fresh waters of Cochin- 
China, has been introduced into many other couniries. 
NotrE.—They are famous nest-builders, forming a nest out of grass 
(panicum) and mud, about six days being required to erect it. From 
eight hundred to one thousand eggs are then deposited, the young ap- 
pearing in about two weeks, and remaining in the nest, only venturing 
out with the parents, who guard them with great vigilance. The Ophi- 
ocephalus, an allied Indian fish, also builds a nest for its young by 
biting off grass and weeds. It also burrows in the mud when streams 
dry up, but does not migrate overland. 
Tautogs (Zaéridz).—The nipper, or cunner, is the 
most familiar form of this family. The blackfish (Fig. 
228), or tautog, is common in Long Island Sound, attaining 
Fic. 228.—Blackfish, or tautog. 
a large size. They spawn in May and June, depositing 
their eggs in the eel-grass and other weeds. Allied are 
the parrot-fishes of Florida, that have bony teeth fused 
into a parrot-like bill, with which they attack the branch 
coral. 
Note.—The related Acava of South America builds a nest in the 
sand, in which the eggs are deposited, while some species, after the 
eggs are laid, take them in their mouths. This is continued from time 
