20 The Natural History of the Mah Chapt. nr 



body, becoming silvery shot with gold on the sides and beneath, 

 Lower fins reddish yellow. 



This fish is the celebrated " Malta seer " of sportsmen in India. 

 The various large barbels in Assam are termed Petiah, with a specific 

 name prefixed to denote the species alluded to. 



Barhus macrocephahn, McClelland, from along the Eastern Hima- 

 layas and Upper Assam, has not the length of the head, " fths only 

 of the total (without the caudal) " — (Giinther) ; but without the head 

 !»/• cdiitltil, or yths of the total excluding the caudal fin. It has rather a 

 longer head (4^ in the total) than is usual, its eye is nearer the front end 

 of the head, whilst the upper bone of the suborbital ring is very wide. 



Barbiu tor H. B. or progenia* McClell., shows great variation in 

 the length of the head, which seems to augment in proportion with 

 the size of the fish; the body is often much higher, whilst the lips 

 art' very much more developed than in the last variety. 



Habitat. — Generally throughout India, but in the largest size and 

 greatest abundance in mountain streams, or those which are rocky. 



Withoul being in a position to prove it, I still adhere to the 

 view advanced in 1873, that there are more Mahseers than have 

 been named, ami that it' it were possible that as much accurate 

 attention could be given to the Mahseer as has been devoted to 

 the SaLmonidiie of Gnat Britain, of Europe, and of America, it 

 would be found that the Mahseers of India would likewise grow 

 in numbers. No one who has not tried it can form any idea of 

 the amount of labour required to collect specimens sutlicicnt to 

 clear up a moot point, to decide which differences are only acci- 

 dents of local colouring, which the ordinary result of the change 

 of season, which indicate only varieties, and which serve to con- 

 stitute separate species. To satisfy an accurate mind specimens 

 must be collected from many rivers, in many localities, at various 

 ages, in various seasons, and in goodly numbers ; and all details 

 of capture must be reliably noted at the time; all these facts 

 which form the basis of conclusion should also be retained for 

 the satisfaction <>l other enquirers. 1 did enough of this to know 

 what a labour it is. enough to know that it would be impossible 

 for me to find sufficient leisure in the intervals of business to 

 exhaust the matter to my own satisfaction ; not enough, as I have 

 admitted, to prom my view that there are more Mahseers than 

 have been named, and yet enough to indicate its probability. 

 These indications may be not uninteresting to my readers, there- 



