FRESH-WATEB FISHES OF CEYLON. 243 



NOTES ON THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF CEYLON,* 



By A. H. Pertwee. 



nnHE following notes, dealing with some of the better known 

 -^ varieties of our fresh- water fishes, do not claim to be either 

 strictly original or of a highly scientific nature ; rather I shall 

 endeavour, by calling attention to certain interesting features of 

 fish life, to stimulate and foster an interest in what is, to my mind, 

 one of the most absorbing branches of Natural Science. 



It is a curious and regrettable fact that while other branches of 

 Nature Study have been exploited to a large and increasing extent , 

 very little progress— in this country at all events — has been made 

 in that branch devoted to the life -history of our fishes. 



In histories of the past century we find the names of scientific 

 giants like Dr. Day, Emerson, Jerdon, Buchanan, and others who 

 devoted many years of strenuous work to the study of fish life, but, 

 alas, the results of their labour remain buried in volumes seldom 

 consulted, except for purpose of reference by the small band of 

 disciples who are trying to carry on the good work they began. 



As I have already said, the study of fish life is a most fascinating 

 one , and to those members of this Society who have not yet identified 

 themselves with any particular subject, I very strongly commend 

 the study of our fresh- water fish. Here, almost at your doors, you 

 will find revealed some of the most wonderful of Nature's mysteries, 

 some of the greatest of the Creator's works, and it is a most astonish- 

 ing thing that such apathy as now exists regarding this subject 

 should continue. 



One of the objects of this Paper is to destroy that apathy. 



The first specimen to which I desire to call your attention is 

 Ophiocephalus striatus. Those of you who have aheady made his 

 acquaintance at table will doubtless recognize him as the loola (once 

 described as "cotton wool stuffed with pins"), and those who have 

 met him at the end of a line will know him for the low-down rascal 

 he is. Yet, apart from epicurean or sporting considerations, there 

 are few fish whose domestic life is so full of interest. The majority 

 of fish deposit their eggs, varying in number from a few hundreds 

 to many thousands, according to species and conditions, and in 

 localities suitable for incubation by natural heat, and, so far as 



* Read before the Ceylon Natural History Society on Friday, June 7, 1912. 

 2k 6(7)12 



