CELL-THROATS. 
151 
: Family XII. Ophiocephalid^. 
I {Cell-throats.) 
These are fresh-water fishes, all inhabiting 
I with one exception (an African species) the 
I rivers of India. They are chiefiy interesting be- 
I cause they possess certain peculiarities of internal 
structure, which distinguish them from all other 
I fishes, and which are connected with habits and 
|| powers no less anomalous. The bones of the 
[I throat (or pharynx) are divided into small thin 
II plates more or less numerous ; and these form, 
I by their frill-like undulations and contortions, 
i intercepting cells, in which water can be retained, 
! and whence it can fiow forth upon the gills and 
keep them moist for a long time, when the fish is 
on the dry land. By this structure the members 
of the Family are enabled to crawl from the 
rivers and ponds which they usually inhabit, and 
migrate to others at a distance ; or, as some sup- 
pose, hide themselves in holes in the muddy 
banks, during the season of drought, waiting for 
the return of the periodical rains to restore them 
to activity. It is affirmed by persons of veracity 
who have lived long in India, that in ponds 
which perfectly dry up, the bottom being hard 
and cracked, fishes are found a few days after 
the commencement of the rainy season, though 
no rivers or brooks flow into them. The size 
of the newly found fishes will scarcely admit the 
explanation which has been suggested of this 
phenomenon, viz., that they are just hatched 
from ova which had been deposited in the mud 
