Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1892-01-07
FREAKS AMONG FISHES.
LITTLE MONSTERS THAT LOOK
LIKE NIGHTMARES.
They Have Horns and climb Irees-
Finny Tribes That Hop on Dry
Land-A Fish That shoots
Insects with Water.

kingdom fishes present the most Curl
GUS forms. In land animals we find
no such striking diversities. In a
general way the variation in color and
disposition of plumage mark the birds
and, as a rule, the beasts vary one
from the other in length OF limb tail
and neck but in the fishes nature
seems to have run riot III 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, a mouth, a
backbone and limbs a 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 a most grotesque character.
In contrast with their great beauty
of celebration the New York Sun has
examined some Of the repulsive forms
and strange developments of organic
fish life:
The goby. q 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 other substances, is represented by
an odd specimen. a sort of half-breed.
which has some OF the habits of the
batracians or amphibians Its scien-
titic name is Periophthalmus koelreu-
teri the extent Of which seems to
have exhausted nomenclature in this
particular case, as no other name can
be found for it even in its natal waters.
Its most striking popularity Is the
habit it has of leaving the water at
the ebb OF the tide and feeding on the
small crustacea and other substances
exposed by the receding tide. Owing
to its strong pectoral und ventral fins
and tail. it can hop freely and rapidly
over the ground. So quick are it's
movements that it is almost as diff
cult to catch it with the hand as it is
the ordinary pond frog. The peculiar
construction OF its eyes which are
very movable and capable of being
thrust far out of their sockets enables
it to see in the air as we'll rs in the
water.
From this amphibious frog-fish 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 a paper before
the Linnean Society of London. states
that in 1871 he took climbing perch
in the act OF ascending a tree which
grew near pond. The fish had
reached a height OF five feet above the
water and was still going higher In
doing this 1t held on to the bark OF the
tree by the sharp spines of the front
and lower gill covers. bent its tail and
stuck in the spines OF its anal the
back fin on the belly; it then released
its head and, raising it took new
hold higher up with the spincs 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 so
they have besn met with in the glare
Of noon toiling along a dusty road. 1t
is said that the boatmen OF the Ganges
keep these perches in a vessel without
water for days. killing and cooking
them rs wanted from day to day, the
fish being always as lively as when
first caught 1t Is said that they are
enabled to maintain life out of their
native element SO long time because
of the retention of a supply of water
in the interstices of the bones adjacent
to the gills.
A curious elongation OF the snout
occurs in the boar fish or bastard do.
rey. one OF the marine perches native
to Australian waters, much esteemed
as fish food. Its flesh improves in
flavor after being out OF the watcr
twenty -four hours, hence it is much
sought for by inland people. The use
OF the snout in fishes appears to be
merely mechanical for roofing purpos-
es, and its prolongation would appear
to be simply freak Of nature other
fishes OF the same family and habits
having only the usual length OF snout.
A striking exception TO the rule laid
down as to the use OF the snOut in the
boar-fish occurs In the use of the arch
er fish (TOxotes jaculatOr). one of the
chelmos, a native of the East Indies
This fish Is about six or seven inches
in length and has slightly prolonged
snout from which it projects drops OF
water, with sure aim at insects caus.
ing them to fall into the watcr where
they are instantly seized as prev.
This habit it continues in captivity.
and it is said to be highly priced as q
household pet by the Malays who
keep 1t in captivity in bowl of water
and amuse themselves at the exhibit
ton OF the peculiar habit of the fish.
which they call .Ikan sumpit."
Her Vocal Qualities.
A lady was once singing at a con.
cert and her voice was, to saw the
least very thin in places.
..Ah c01H ho,, h,,eA~.l