Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-05-18

FISH OUT OF WATER.
MEMBER of the Finny Tribe Who Climb
Trees and Walk on Land.

Members of the Finny Tribe Who Climb
Trees and Walk on Land.
Many kinds Of fish build nests in the
water for the protection of their eggs,
but the doras make theirs upon the
beach. This they do at the beginning
OF the rainy season. The nest is
formed very nearly like that of bird
and is built of dry leaves. which the
little creature goes inland to fetch
When it is finished the eggs are de-
posted within, and these small fish
parents cover up their embryo offspring
most carefully and watch over them
with great soli1:ude. The common
eel is known to have similar habit of
moving about on the land, and will
even live several days out of water.
When an eel is drawn from the water
and laid upon the earth it ut once puffs
out its cheeks in a very noticeable
manner. These cheeks are formed OF
distensible pouches or sacs covering
the gills, which the eel fills with water
in order that the gill-fbers may be
kept moist, by which means he is
enabled to remain upon the dry land
for considerable time without coming
to serious harm. So. when the pond
where the ee. makes his home begins
to get dry, he takes in good supply
Of water and starts off to find another;
moving like snake in an apparently
sinuous course, but really in a surpris-
ingly straight line, for the piece Of
water he wishes to reach, whose direc-
ton he seems, by some curious instinct,
to know.
The Anabas Scandens, or climbing
perch of India, is, perhaps. the mos
celebrated of any fish which voluntarily
comes on shore, rs he certainly is the
most accomplished in terrestrial feats.
He is little fellow, very like perch
in the general form. with large scale
and spiny dorsal fin. and is to be found
in rivers and ponds in most parts o.
the East Indies. When the waters
which he inhabits seem in danger OF
being dried up, he leaves them and
travels off in search of others. Though
he prefers to make these journeys al
night. or in the early morning, while
the dew still lies upon the grass, h,
often travels by day, and has even
been met toiling along hot, dusty
gravel-road, under the full glare Of an
Indian midday sun. 1t is, however,
for his climbing powers that this ex-
traordinary fish is famed above all
others that frequent the land. BY the
aid of his spiny gill-covers and tail fin,
which he pushes into the creviccs il,
the bark. he manages to climb tree,
and even tall palm-trees. That he
, does it awkwardly is true, moving
somewhat after the manner of a
measuring OF looping caterpillar; bu,
the fact that he can accomplish it at all
is as marvellous as his object in at
tempting the feat is inexplicable. Boat.
men upon the Ganges and other river.
where these climbing perch abound
| catch them and put them in earther
| po,s, keep them alive without any
water often for as many as six days
killing them as they wish to use them
and find them during the whole time
as lively as when newly caught.
The common perch of our own waters
while unable to climb trees or even t
walk about the fields. is possessed o
great tenacity of life after being taker
from the water. When given blanke
of wet moss it can be carried in APP
parent comfort for long distances, ant
in some parts Of Europe the fishermen
will Offer these perch for sale during
the day, and if not successful in dis
posing Of them will replace them a
night in the ponds from which the,
were taken in tho morning. seemingly
none the worse for their outing -
SWiss Cross