1916.]} B.SunpArA Raj: Freshwater Fish of Madras. 265 
Macrones vittatus (Bloch). 
Tamil—Nattu Kelitt. 
Habitat and Habits.—This is the commonest species of 
Macrones in fresh water in Madras. In the Cooum and Adyar 
rivers it frequently occurs within tidal influence. 
In habits it closely resembles the previous species; Day! 
observes :— 
‘‘ This fish is termed ‘ the fiddler’ in Mysore; I touched one which was on the 
wet ground, at which it appeared to become very irate, erecting its dorsal fin and 
making a noise resembling the buzzing of a bee, evidently a sign of anger. When 
[ put some small carp into an aquarium containing one of these fish it rushed 
at a small example, seized it by the middle of its back and shook it like a dog 
killing a rat.”’ 
In April, r911 I obtained from a ditch near Chetput, which 
contained large numbers of this fish, two albino specimens perfect- 
ly pigmentless ; they were translucent white, showing the surface 
blood vessels of the skin, and were less active and more sensitive 
to light than pigmented ones. 
In March I found a female with eggs. 
Uses.—-Though small, it is very common, and is eaten by the 
poor. 
- Macrones keletius (C. and V.) 
Comparatively rare in Madras; I have met with it only in 
one or two ponds in the city and in the Red Hills tank. 
Anguilla elphinstonei, Sykes. 
(Anguilla bengalensts (Gray) of the Fauna of Brit. India.) 
Tamil—V elangu. 
Dr. Max Weber, in his recent revision of the species of Anguzlla 
of the Indo-Pacific region, considers the earlier name A. bengalensis 
(Gray) invalid, as the figure published by Gray and Hardwicke is 
altogether inadequate to identify the species.” 
Habitat and Habits.—This is by far the commoner of the two 
species of Anguilla in Madras, and is abundant in ponds and rivers. 
It is carnivorous and is very voracious, hiding in the bottom mud 
during the day and emerging out to feed at night; hence it is 
mostly captured at night. Indian fishermen have an easy way 
of taking it ‘‘ they leave small-mouthed earthen pots with a 
bit of sheep skin in each overnight, and draw them up in the 
morning, with their fish lying coiled up most comfortably in 
them.’ *® It is very tenacious of life and survives most adverse 
conditions such as drought and starvation. Like most eels, it 
lives for a long time out of water and leaving its native waters 

| Fauna of Brit. Ind., p. 158; Fishes of India, p. 449. 
2 Max Weber, Revision der Indo-Pacifischen Anguilla-Arten, Zoo/. Fahrb., 
Sup, 15, Band I, p. 578 (1912). 
® Thomas, Tank Angling, p. 100 (1887). 
