JOURNAL 



OP THE 



BOMBAY 



^tetitpl patoiffi ^041% 



No. ij BOMBAY, JANUARY 1887. [Vol. 11. 



WATERS OF WESTERN INDIA. 



Part III. — The Konkan and Coast. 



(By a Member of the Society.) 



The remaining Reptiles of the Region are all Batrachians. The 

 Frogs are much the same as in the few damp parts of the Deccan, 

 but more numerous. The Ccecilians, or blind-worms, are rather rare; 

 and I do not think that there are any newts. Singularly enough, 

 the name " niwta" is applied to certain leaping. fishes, which will 

 be dealt with, in their own place; and which, seen at a little distance 

 in their native mud, have very much the appearance and action of 

 reptiles. 



The fislies, naturally, are numerous and important, and I shall 

 take tliem in order ; following usually the classification of Dr. Day, 

 unquestionably the standard authority on Indian fislies. 



The family of Perclies is only represented in the fresh waters by 

 few and small (though, often prettily marked) species, chiefly of 

 Ambassis. The so-called climbing Perch (Avabas scandens,) 

 belongs to another family, although decidedly perch-like in ap- 

 pearance ; I have not procured it in the Konkan myself. 



The marine Perches, however, are very numerous and important 

 here, as throughout the tropical and sub-tropical seas, in which, 

 1 



