Chap. X.] MASTACEMBELUS ARMATUS. 



339 



Mastacembelus armatus. 1 The back is armed with from 

 thirty-five to thirty-nine short, stout spines ; there being 

 three others before the anal fin. The ground colour of 

 the fish is brown, and the head has two rather irregular 

 longitudinal black bands ; deep-brown spots run along 

 the back as well as along the dorsal and anal fins ; and 

 the sides are ornamented with irregular and reticulated 

 brown lines. This eel attains to the length of two feet. 

 The old females do not show any markings, being of a 

 uniform brown colour. 



In the collection of Major Skinner, before alluded to, 

 brought together without premeditation, the naturalist 

 will be struck by the preponderance of those genera 

 which are adapted by nature to endure a temporary 

 privation of moisture; and this, taken in connection 

 with the vicissitudes affecting the waters they inhabit, 

 exhibits a surprising illustration of the wisdom of the 

 Creator in adapting the organisation of his creatures to 

 the peculiar circumstances under which they are destined 

 to exist. 



So abundant are fish in all parts of the island, that 

 Knox says, not the running streams alone, but the reser- 

 voirs and ponds, " nay, every ditch and little plash of 

 water but ankle deep hath fish in it." 2 But many of 

 these reservoirs and tanks are, twice in each year, liable 



1 Macrognathus armatus, Lacep. ; sunk in line in the direction in 

 Mastacembelus armatus, Cuv., Vol, which it is desired to lead a supply 



2 Knox's Historical Relation of of water, and these are connected 

 Ceylon, Part I. ch. vii. The oc- by channels, which are carefuUy 

 currence of fish m the most un- arched over to protect them from 

 looked-for situations, is one of the evaporation. These kanats, as 

 mysteries of other eastern countries they are called, are full offish, 

 as well as Ceylon and India. In although neither they nor the wells 

 Persia irrigation is carried on to a they unite have any connection 

 great extent by means of wells with streams or lakes. 



Z 2 



