384 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



giant fish and was shouting for the gaff as the fish at last showed signs of 

 yielding. I draw a veil over the closing scene. The fish turned out to be a 

 young crocodile ! 



Another fine lagoon fish is the " kalai." I have not been able to identify him. 

 I thought at first he was the same as the Bamin or Paumben salmon, but on 

 referring to Thomas I find he is not. He does not run so large as the koduva ; 

 but he is a far finer fighter. Weight for weight he will play as well as a salmon. 

 He is to be caught in the same way as a koduva, with live bait, natural 

 spinning bait or spoon. But the strongest tackle and hooks are necessary. 



Lastly, I would mention the " seer. " He is properly a sea fish, but comes 

 into creeks and estuaries occasionally. He will take a fly or spoon, is excellent 

 eating, and fights to the last ounce of his strength. But my experience of rod 

 fishing for these fish is very small. I have only caught two or three on a fly in 

 Galle Harbour. 



I have caught several other kinds of fish, and there are probably many others 

 unknown to me which are well worth catching, but these remarks will show, I 

 hope, that good fishing is to be got in the low country of Ceylon, and I would 

 advise any keen angler about to visit the country to bring a fly and spinning 

 rod and suitable tackle. 



I have given no details as to the class of rods, lines and tackles most suitable 

 to this low country for fear of trespassing on your patience, which I fear I 

 have overtaxed already, but if anyone requires any particulars I shall be very 

 glad to give him any information I can through the Fishing Gazette. 



R. A. G-. Festing. 

 (The above appeared in the " Fishing Gazette" 1th January 1905.) 



No. XXI— BIG GAME. 

 ON THE BREEDING SEASONS AND OTHER MATTERS. 



In the last issue of this Journal some notes regarding the breeding season of 

 tnamirals, with particular reference to big game, were published. It is com- 

 plained with much truth that our knowledge on this point is very limited, 

 while the complaint is also made of the vagueness of such information as exists 

 regarding the subject under review. We are told that in Blanford's Mamviah 

 of India the statement is of ten repeated that "the breeding time of a parti- 

 cular species is ' about ' such and such a month. " Is it possible, however, to 

 be more explicit V My own experience indicates that the breeding season of 

 many animals is so variable, or is spread over so considerable a period, that 

 more exact statements are likely to be erroneous. Can any one say that the 

 tiger, for instance, has a breeding season that can be confined within the limits 

 of one month ? I think not, for cubs of the same age may be found at 

 different periods of the year. My own experience of these animals has unfor- 

 tunately been confined to the months of March, April, and May. But I have 

 found them during those months to have cubs varying between a few days 

 (on April 11th), three or four months (on 7th May), and six months of age 



