22 INDIAN FRESH-WATER FISHES. 



ferent from what they are now in far distant ages, 

 while the present species of Labeo must apparently 

 have sprung into existence since that time, as some 

 species are now confined to India, and others to 

 Egypt. 



There are several isolated waters in different parts 

 of India, which it would be interesting to examine 

 carefully and to note the species of fish to be found 

 in them. 



The lake at Nynee Tal is a good example ; it is a 

 large piece of water at a height of 6000 feet, having 

 only one outlet, from which the surplus water escapes 

 down a series of cascades, up which no fish could pos- 

 sibly make its way. Some fishes have been imported 

 into the lake, I believe, from below, but it would be 

 very interesting to know what species inhabit it na- 

 turally, and if they are the same as are to be found in 

 the streams below. 



Again, in the Khasia hills, the southern face of the 

 plateau, overlooking the Sylhet district, breaks off 

 very suddenly, and the streams are precipitated over 

 the edge from a height of 3000 or 4000 feet, forming 

 waterfalls of several hundred feet at a time. Unfor- 

 tunately, in this case, the natives have a habit of 

 poisoning the streams, so that there are very few fish 

 of any kind to be found on the plateau. 



However, there is one little species very common at 

 Cherrapoonjee, and curiously enough it seems to be 

 very closely allied, if not identical with a species 

 (Danio neilgherriensis) that occurs in the streams on 



