102 NATURAL HISTORY. 



up, laid hold of the captive, and carried him off into deep water, 

 where, after a few minutes, the fine tackle gave way. 



The terms Singhala, Singhata, &c, signifying " Horn-fish," are 

 applied by Mahrattas to several catfish with long feelers, mostly 

 of the genus Macrones. These generally give fair spcrt, and are 

 good eating. The best way of angling for any of them is to use a 

 live bait in the evening, when they leave the deep water, and 

 maraud along the banks, or near the surface. Failing such bait, 

 fresh raw meat answers fairly well. It is good to shoot some wild 

 bird or kill a chicken beside the river bank, and bait with warm 

 flesh, as all carnivorous fish are strongly attracted by the smell 

 of blood. 



In handling the catfishes it is necessary to be very careful, as 

 several species are provided with formidable spines, to say nothing 

 of numerous and sharp teeth ; and the wound of either is apt to be 

 very painful, and takes long to heal. 



The larger species are sometimes known to sportsmen as " Fresh- 

 water sharks " from their size, temper, and well-furnished jaws. 



After these there is only one family of sporting fish left to name, 

 viz , the walking fishes or Ophiocephalidce (snake-heads), commonly 

 called " MurvelV These are long fish, something of the shape of 

 a ling, whose head is fancifully supposed to resemble that of a 

 snake, whence the scientific name. 



The Murrells are known to natives in the Deccan by that name, 

 but elsewhere in this Presidency as Dhak, Dhakru, or Dhok. 

 They are chiefly remarkable as air-breathing fish, a quality which 

 enables them to live for many hours out of water, and even to move 

 for some distance over land, wriggling and crawling with their 

 flapper-like fins, whence their English name. They cannot, indeed, live 

 altogether under water, but must rise to the surface occasionally 

 to take in fresh air ; and they like to lie at the top with their 

 nostrils exposed and breathe air for long periods together. To do 

 so in the centre of a stream or tank would expose them to many 

 enemies ; and the Murrells accordingly lurk in thick beds of weeds, 

 or under overhanging roots or rocks on the bank, where they lie 

 half erect in the water, breathing air and looking out for wind- 

 falls. They are said to have subaqueous burrows, but these, in 

 the nature of things, they cannot use for any long time to- 

 gether, and in my opinion they pass most of their lives at the 

 surface, but so skilfully concealed that they are seldom observed. 



