The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-27
Queer Fishes.

Popular Science MONTHLY
Strolling one day in what IS euphemistic-
ally termed in equatorial ATTITUDES, the
cool of the evening" along tangled tropical
American field-patb, through a low region
OF lasOOns and water-cOurseS, my attention
happened 10 be ElOmen iarily attracted from
the mODotOnous pursuit Of the nimble mos
quito by q small animal scuttling along r.
regularly before me, ss II in great hurry 10
get out of my way before / could turn him
into an excellent specimen. At first sight
took the little hopper, in the grav dusk, for
one of the common, small green lizards, and
wasn't much disposed to pay it any distin-
guished share either OF personal or scientific
attention. But, As | walked on n little farther
through the dense underbrush, more and
more OF these shutting and scurrying little
creatures kept crossing the path. hastily. all
IN one direction. and all, As it We're, IN a
formed body or marching phGlanX. LOOSlng
closer. to my great surprise I found they
were actually flSh out OF water, going on
q walking-tOur, for change of air to a new
Tesidence-genuine fish. a couple of inches
long each, not eel-shaped or SerPentine in
outline, but closely resembling a mullet in
miniature though much more beautifully and
delicately colOred, and with fins and tails OF
the most orthodox >piny and prickly descriD-
ton. They were travelling across country IN
q Decline. thousands OF them together. not
at all like the helpless fish out of water of
popular imagination, but as uncOncernedly
and naturally rs if they had been accustomed
To the overland route for their whole life
times. and were walking now on the kings
highway without let or Eindrance.
OF all land frequentiDg fish, however, by
far the most famous is the 50 called elm bling
perch Of India, which not only walks bodily
out of the water. but even climbs trees by
means of special spines, near the head and
tail, 50 arranged as to stick into the bark and
enable it to wriggle its way awkwarlly,
something after the same fashion as the
looping of caterpillars. The tree-climber
is small, scaly fish, seldom more than sever
inches long; but II has developed a special
breathing apparatus TO enable il to keep Up
the stock of oxygen on its terrestrial excur-
sions, which may be regarded as to some
extent the exact converse OF the means en-
pi0yed by divers 20 supply themselves with
air under water Just above the gills, which
form of course its natural hereditary breath
ing apparatus, the cEmbing-perch has in
vented new and wholly original water
chamber. containing within it a frilled bOny
organ. which enables ii to extract oxygen
from the stOred-up water during the course
Of its aerial peregrinatiOns. While on shore
IL picks up small insects, worms, and grubs:
but il also has vegetarian tastes of its own,
and does not desDise fruits and berries. Tue
Indian jugglers tame the climbing-perches
and carry them about with them as part of
their stock in trade their ability TO live for
a long time out OF water makes them useful
cOnfederates in many small tricks which
seem very wonderful 10 people accustomed
TO believe that fish die almost at once when
taken out OF their native element.