Fighting-fish

Fighting-fish (Betta pugnax), a small freshwater fish, especially at home in Siam, where it is reared on account of its curious pugnacity. It belongs to the family Labyrinthici, which includes other interesting fishes, such as the Climbing Perch (Anabas), the beautiful Paradise-fish, the well-flavoured Gourami. When two fighting-fish are brought together they often rush immediately to combat; or it is even enough to introduce a looking-glass into the water, when the fish hastens to attack its own image. Fish-fights are a favourite amusement of the Siamese; the license to exhibit them yields a considerable annual revenue; and an extraordinary amount of gambling takes place in connection with them—not merely money and property, but children and liberty being sometimes staked. When the fish is quiet its colours are dull; but when it is excited they glow with metallic splendour, and 'the projected gill-membrane, waving like a black frill around the throat, adds something of grotesqueness to the general appearance.'