THE MUD FISH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9294, 21 January 1892, Page 4

THE MUD FISH.

Africa is the home of many extraordinary animals, but there is no more extraordinary croature than the mud-fish, which inhabits certain of the of Western Africa, and, as its name implies, it lurks at the muddy bottoms of these rivers. At present, however, it is not necessary to go to Africa to see this fish, as it can be seen by any one who has the time in the reptile house at the Zoological ■ Gardens. At first sight • there is perhaps nothing ' especially striking • about tbis animal; "it look 3 very much like an ordinary fish' except for its ourious long slonder fins. A visitor who knew nothing about the creature would probably go away with the. impression that he had seen nothing out of the common. When the fishes arrived, each que was encased in a ball of dried mud; lined wiih mucus from its body, and perforated by a small aperture to admit of breathing! This" cocoon," as jit ia sometimes called, on account of its analogy to the earthen onse fabricated by many caterpillar in which to undergo their metamorphoses, on being placed in warmish water was dissolved and -the fish liberated. The habit which- the mud-fish has of making an.enrthcn chamber of the mud at the bottom of the river is a most wonderful provision of nature for the exigencies of the.climate. The rivers which the fish inhabits are liable to periodical droughts. When such a drought is imminent tho fish- retires to deep waltr and excavates a pit, in which " it lies, covering itsoli over with a thick layer of mud. It euu suffer with impunity -the complete drying up of the river. But the most interesting fact about the creature is that chirm,',' the timo of its voluntary |impriiioniiioiit it breathes air' directly through an aporturo left in the cocoon, by means of. lungs, just like a land animal.- ' Whenj the returning rains dissolve the mud and libe* rato the fish.it- breathes by. means of gills. just like any other fish. — Leisure Sour, [ . «. *