2o8 Records of iJic Indian Museum. [Vol. XXII, 



In 0. pmictatus the subopercular bones overlap or come very 

 close to each other on the under surface of the head. The body is 

 sharply marked into two regions, the upper surface of the head 

 and the body is dark, while the belly and the lower surface of the 

 head are white. There is a dark band along the side of the head 

 from the snout to the angle of the operculum. There are also a 

 number of alternating bands above and below the lateral line. 

 The belly and the under surface of the head are speckled with 

 black dots. There is a white transverse bar at the base of the 

 caudal fin and all the fins have dotted bands. 



Ophiocephalus harcourt-butleri, Annandale. 



1918. Ophiocephalus harcouyi-butleri , .'\nnandale, op. cit.. p. 54, text- 

 fig. 2 ; |>1. ii, fig. 7 ; pi. iv, figs. 16, 17. 



Specimens from the Shan States show great variation as 

 regards the number of fin-raj's both in the dorsal and the anal fins. 

 Dr. Annandale gives the formula as: — D. 28 — 38. A. 16 — 25. 

 The specimens of this species from Manipur are, however, constant 

 as regards this character. Of a large number of specimens in 

 which I counted the rays, only in one case was the number of rays 

 in the dorsal fin found to be 35, while 34 is the rule. The anal 

 fin always had 23 rays. Both types of colour-forms occur in our 

 collection and the young individuals are characterized by a black 

 ocellus at the base of the pectoral fin, followed by a number of 

 black lines. In almost all cases the vertical and the caudal fins 

 have a narrow reddish-orange band along their edge. 



Ophiocephalus harcourt-butleri is widely distributed in the 

 Southern Shan States (Burma) and the Manipur Valley. In the 

 Manipur Valley it is common in the Loktak Lake and in the 

 marshes surrounding it. 



FISHERIES OF THE MANIPUR VALLEY AND OF THE 

 NAGA HILLS OF THE SOUTHERN WATERSHED. 



Owing to their religious tenets the ^lanipuris are forbidden 

 anj' kind of animal food except fish, which thus forms a very 

 important item in their diet. In the Loktak Lake, where traps 

 and other fishing appliances are used in great variety, the state 

 does not levy any kind of tax, consequently near Thanga Island, 

 which may be described as the headquarters of the fishermen, 

 fishing is carried on throughout the year and at all hours of the 

 day and night, and every Manipuri irrespective of age and sex 

 is engaged in fishing. Even in other places it is a common sight 

 to see young boys and girls catching small fish from ponds with 

 baskets. Lai^ Manipuris do not spare even the molluscs and 

 Acrostoma var labile, the soft parts of which are sucked out after 

 boiling, is highlj' esteemed. 



1 /,a!=Villagers. The Manipuris of the big towns look upon villagers as of 

 low caste .'ind usiiallv do not mix with thum. 



