Following are some curious facts about fishes. While naturalists have generally accepted Cuvier's view that the existence of fishes is silent, emotionless and joyless, recent observations tend to show that many fishes emit vocal sounds. The anabas scandens, the climbing perch of India, quits the water and wanders over banks for considerable distances, and is even said to climb trees and bushes. At Tranquebar, Hindoostan, may be seen the strange spectacle of fish and shell-fish dwelling high on lofty trees. The perch there climbs up tall fan-palms in pursuit of certain shell-fish which form his favorite food. Covered with viscid slime, he glides smoothly over the rough bark. Spines, which he may sheathe and unfold at will, serve him like hands to hang by, and with the aid of side fins and a powerful tail he pushes himself upward. One species of fish, the sticklebacks, are known to build nests. There are several varieties of this fish, all natives of fresh water with one or two exceptions. They are found in the Ottawa River. The cyprinodon is a sightless fish which gropes in the dreary waters of the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky.

The blind fish are so sensitive that the sound made by the dropping of a grain of sand on the water will cause them to dart away beyond reach.