HABITS, BREEDING, ETC. 193 



Often, in places where rivers or streams issue from 

 the hilly country into the plains, large, deep, and 

 clear pools of water are to be found, sometimes run- 

 ning for long distances into the hills overshadowed by 

 precipitous cliffs. In places of this sort the Mahaseer, 

 Kalabans, and other large Cyprinoids may be seen in 

 thousands lying near the bottom during the months of 

 December, January, and February. In the Ganges 

 above Hurdwar, for instance, where the water is 

 brilliantly clear, although the stream is swift, I have 

 seen, on looking over the side of a boat, thou- 

 sands upon thousands of large fish crowded 

 together. 



I fancy the fact is that food is scarce at this time of 

 year, the water weeds and vegetation die off and 

 become rotten, and there are no insects or small fry 

 about for the larger fish to feed upon. It is thus a 

 necessity of their existence that at this time of year 

 they should lie quiet and lead a semi-torpid kind of 

 life, without caring to feed much, or to exert them- 

 selves by moving about, which would only increase 

 their appetites. 



In some parts of the country, where tanks abound 

 which are apt to dry up altogether, several kinds of 

 fish bury themselves in the mud, and are often dug 

 out alive from thence by the natives. This fact, 

 extraordinary as it may appear, has been so well 

 attested by several observers as to leave no doubt of 

 its actual truth. In this way it happens that on the 

 first fall of rain full-grown fish are sometimes to be 



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