5^ on (he generation ofjijtjes. Sept. r^ 



t.ire during the drj season, might retain its germi- 

 nating quality, so as to become young fifli on the first 

 fall of the rain, as the silk worm's egg in the nor- 

 thern parts of Europe hatches immediately on being 

 exposed to the heat of the summer's sun. In this 

 case nothing would be wonderful but the sudden 

 growth of the filli to a size fit to be eaten, in so fhort 

 a time after the rainy weather sets in. But as we 

 know that, even in Europe, the growth of a young 

 salmon, at a certain period, is amazingly rapid when 

 compared with most other animals, and as vegeta- 

 tion in India during the rainy season, far exceeds 

 any thing we here experience, we can form an idea 

 of animal growth being, in certain circumstances, 

 proportionally rapid. According to this hypothe- 

 sis there seems to be nothing contradictory to the 

 usual course of nature at least, and nothing that 

 could be deemed to approach towards the miraculous. 



On this su.pposition, however, one difficulty re- 

 quires to be removed. In this case it must happen, 

 that when the pools of water are dried up, the filh 

 which had not been caught mustbe found left dead upon 

 the surface of the ground. And, in some cases, un- 

 lefs the natives be peculiarly afsiduous in catching 

 them, these must then be thus found in considerable 

 quantities. My informants took no notice of this 

 circumstance. 



In fliort, we in Europe may form conjectures on 

 this subject ; but it is those who are in India only 

 who can observe the facts. I iball therefore deem it 

 a particui.u- favour if any gentleman in India, mto 

 whose bands this may fall, will have the goodnefs to 



