igiQ-] T, vSouTHWELL & B. Prashad : Studies of Indian Fishes. 217 



II. Life-history of Notopterus chitala (Ham. Buch.). 

 (PI. XVI, figs. 4-10.) 



During the months of June and July 19 15, Mr. S. M. Mohsin, 

 Superintendent of Fisheries, found eggs of Notopterus chitala 

 attached to the masonry work of a bathing ghat on the banks of 

 the river Ganges at Buxar, Bihar. He made a few observations on 

 the nature of the nest, the guarding of the nest by the parent fish 

 and the manner in which the eggs are deposited. Mr. Mohsin 

 collected eggs from, the first nest and from other nests which were 

 subsequently found in the vicinity. He also hatched a few eggs in 

 a large earthenware vessel and thus obtained specimens of some 

 of the later larval stages. Our account is based on the material 

 collected by Mr. Mohsin. This material, besides being far from 

 complete, is in a very poor state of preservation. The exact age 

 of the specimens is not stated and cannot now be ascertained. 

 As, however, nothing is known about the life-history of this, or 

 of any of the nearly related forms, we have thought it advisable 

 to give the following description even though it is very incom- 

 plete. Field notes from Mr. Mohsin's report on the subject are 

 also incorporated, but it should be understood that we have, 

 as yet, had no opportunity of verifying or extending his 

 investigations. 



Breeding habits. — As a result of his observations and local 

 enquiries Mr. Mohsin arrived at the conclusion that the spawning 

 season of this fish extends from the end of May to the middle of 

 July. This statement must, however, be taken with a certain 

 amount of reservation as we know from experience that the 

 information supplied by fishermen is generally inaccurate, and 

 Mr. Mohsin's observations were of too limited a character to have 

 enabled him to arrive at a very definite conclusion. 



This species prefers to deposit its eggs on solid substances 

 (such as brick-walls, stones, masonry, etc.) close to the banks 

 of the river. The female, when shedding eggs, lies close to the 

 object on which they are to be deposited, the body of the fish 

 being inclined at a certain angle to the vertical. The eggs, being 

 glutinous, adhere firmly to the object on which they are deposited. 

 The male, later on, emits the milt over them. This very simple 

 type of nest was the only one observed in this case. Usually, 

 from three to five hundred eggs are laid at a time. During 

 the period of laying and hatching, the nest is very carefully 

 guarded by the parent fish and any intrusion is vigorously 

 resented, fishermen attempting to go near the nest are fre- 

 quently bitten. Unfortunately, no observations were made as 

 to whether both the male and the female fish guard the eggs, or 

 whether it is done by one of the parent fishes, or by both together, 

 or alternately. Further, nothing is known as to whether parental 

 care extends to the fry stages or not. According to Mr. Mohsin 

 the eggs hatch out in about two weeks. When hatched, the 

 fry have a large yolk-sac, and, during the four to five days 



