372 COMMON FISH OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



tion, as quite ludicrously little ones, hardly as 

 large, and certainly not nearly as strong as their 

 intended prey, may often be seen leaping out of 

 the water and trying to lay hold of the great 

 brown hornets, who are for ever quartering about 

 over the surface and gleaning dragon-flies' eggs and 

 other adherent dainties from the projecting blades 

 of grass or leaves of floating weeds. Farther out 

 from the banks larger fish swim slowly about, and 

 now and then a great splash and swirl announces 

 that a monster has come up from the depths to 

 roll about at the surface. 



As the monsoon continues many ponds are 

 temporarily connected with the river by devious 

 water-ways that form roads by means of which 

 grey mullets, Mugil corsula, travel up in pairs and 

 little troops to visit even very small pieces of 

 water. Their presence in a pond is always wel- 

 come, for not only are they very good to eat, but 

 they are very lively and amusing creatures. Whilst 

 travelling, they swim so close to the surface that 

 their great, goggle eyes stand out prominently above 

 the water, and present a very curious appearance 

 from a little distance, looking like animated bubbles 

 coursing about in pairs or groups. Where their 

 progress is opposed by a strong current they often 

 prefer to travel in a series of jumps along the 

 surface of the water, seeming to find it easier to 

 make way in this fashion than by diving below the 



