Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. (IA mobot31753002848262).pdf/52

 pines, attains a length of about half an inch and is believed to be the smallest known fish.

The family is not of much economic importance at present and I have no personal knowledge of their edible qualities.

Our most noteworthy species are the Bělontok (Eleotris marmorata) the Bělodok (Gobius spp.), the Tĕmbakul and Bělachak (Periophthalmus spp.).

The Bělontok has already been alluded to as attaining a large size and not less than seven species are known to inhabit our waters.

One of our Bělodok (G. butis) is said by Day to be much esteemed by the natives of India, as being very light and wholesome, but unless elaborately cooked is not relished by Europeans, because of its deficiency in, or earthy, taste.

It attains a length of a foot and a half, takes a bait freely and is largely bred in tanks in India.

The Tĕmbakul and Bělachak will be familiar to most residents in Malaya as the Mud-Skippers which may be seen disporting themselves on the mud and among the mangroves, along all our coasts and estuaries.

Malays have told me that these fish are good eating and possess great medicinal virtues.

They have very conspicuous prominent eyes, which are capable of protrusion and retraction, and extraordinary muscular pectoral fins which they use like arms for progression on mud and for climbing.

Day writes, "They climb on to trees, holding on by their pectoral fins exactly as if they were arms. Now and then they plant these firmly as organs of support, the same as one places one's elbows on a table, then they raise their heads and take a deliberate survey of surrounding objects."

Saville-Kent is quoted by Stead as follows:

"A remarkable circumstance associated with the life economy of Periophthalmus is the fact that it cannot sustain life if continually water-submerged like ordinary fish. The exposure of its tissues to the action of atmospheric air with every fall of the tide appears to be essential to its well-being, and examples experimentally kept under water for prolonged intervals were literally drowned.

"As a provision for its abnormal life-habits, it has been ascertained that Periophthalmus possesses a supplementary respiratory organ which, singular to relate, is represented, in this instance, in the creature's tail.

"The fish while reposing on the surface of the mud commonly leaves its tail more or less immersed in the water. The blood circulates with abnormal energy through this thin membranous appendage, which accordingly fulfils the function of a supplementary gill."