The state herald., 1891-12-25
FREAKS AMONG FISHES.
LITTLE MONSTERS THAT LOOK
LIKE NIGHTMARES.
They Have Horns and Climb Trssa--
Flnny Tribes That Hop ON Dry
Land-A Fish TIL u shoots
Insects with Water.

" ssAA sAo StouphteSs Vi tuo ANIMAL
kingdom fishes present the most curi-
GUS forms. In land animals we find
no such striking diversities. In u
general way the variation In color and
disposition OF plumage mark the birds
and. asa rule the beasts vary one
from tho other in length OF limb tail
and neck, but in the fishes neture
seems TO have run riot in fashioning
misshapen forms They possess a
general type of structure in common
with the other creatures OF the three
great classes OF the animal kingdom.
They have eyes and ears, mouth, n
backbone and limbs, heart breath
Ing apparatus. teeth aud brains-in
fact all the organs necessary to sus.
tain life create in kind. and to forage
for food. yet their external anatomy
is often OF most grotesque character.
In contrast with their great beauty
OF coloration the New York Sun has
examined some Of tho repulslve forms
and strange developments of organic
fish life:
The goby, family OF fishes dis
tinguished by disk formed by the
ventral fins which enables them TO at
tach their bodies firmly to the rocks
or ether substances. is represented by
an odd specimen. sort OF half-breed,
which has some Of the habits OF the
batracians or amphibians Its scien
tific name is Periophthalmus koelreu-
teri the extent OF which seems to
have exhausted nomenclature In this
particular case, rs no other name can
be found FOR II even In its natal waters.
Its most striking peculiarly is the
habit 1t has OF leaving the water ut
the ebb OF the tide and feeding on the
small crustacea and other substances
exposed by tho receding tide. Owing
TO its strong pectoral and ventral fins
and tall. II can hop freely and rapidly
over tho ground. So quick are its
movements that 1t is almost as Diff
cult tC catch II with the hand us 1t is
the ordinary pond frog. The peculiar
construction oi its eyes. which are
very movable, and capable OF being
thrust far out of their sockets. enables
1t 10 see in the air as well rs in the
water.
From this amphibious frog-fls the
transition is natural to one that can
climb trees. 1t is called Anabas
scandens In the books, and climbing
perch" by the natives OF the Indian
region.
In 1897 Daldorf, in u paper before
the Linnean Society OF London. states
that in 1891 he took climbing perch
in the act OF ascending tree which
grew near n pond. The fish had
reached n height OF five feet above the
water and was still going higher In
doing this II held on TO the bark OF the
tree by the sharp spines of the front
and lower gill covers bent It's tail and
stuck In the spincs OF It's anal. the
back fin on the belly; ii then released
its head. and. raising II took new
hold higher up with the spines OF the
gill covers. urging its way up by dis
tending or contracting its body. This
perch leaves pools when they ARE in
danger OF being dried up and travels
in search OF water. and when doing 80
they have been met with .jn tho glare
OF noon toiling along dusty road. II
Is said that the boatmen Of the Ganges
keep these perches In vessel without
water for days. killing and cooking
them ms wanted from day To day. the
fish being always rs lively as when
first caught II Is said that they are
enabled 10 maintain life out OF their
native element SO long u time because
OF the retention OF supply OF water
In the interstlces OF the bones adjacent
TO the gills.
A curious elongation Of the snout
occurs In the boar fish or bastard do
roy. one OF the marine perchcs native
TO Australian waters much esteemed
as fish food. Its flesh improves In
flavor niter being out Of the water
twenty -four hours, hence II IL much
sought for by inland people. Tho use
OF the snout In fishes appears TO be-
merely mechanical for roofing purpos-
eS and It's prolongatIon would appear
TO bo simply n freak Of nature. other
fishes Of the same family and habits
hhVihH only tho usual length OF snout.
striking exception TO the rulc laid
down as to the use Of tho snout In the
boar-iish occurs In the use OF the arch
or fish (foxo,cs jucuiator). one OF the
chelmos. na,ive Of tho Ens, Indies
This fish is about six or seven inches
in length and has n slightly prolonged
snout from which II projects drops OF
water. with sure aim. at insects. caus.
Ing thcm TO fall into the water. whore
thcy are instantly seized ms prey.
This habit II continues In captivity.
and II Is said to be highly priced ns Il
household pet by tho Malays who
keep 1t In captivity In bowl Of water
and amusc themselves at the oshlbi.
tion Of the peculiar habit Of the fish.
which they call ''lkan sumpit."