PREFACE. IX 



close company of a plain Saxon synonym. Thus disposed 



no exception can well lie taken to its presence, especially 

 in the names of fish where, without such accuracy of 

 expression, it would be hard to know for certain which fish 

 it was that was being Bpoken of. 



But lest this Beeming rudeness to natural history 

 should scare away some that might otherwise do me (he 

 bonour of at least a cursory reading, I think I had hetter 

 present my letter of introduction. The following letter 

 and the handsome accompanying Medal, which I had the 

 unexpected honour of receiving from the Acclimatization 

 Society of Paris, is the best evidence that, though in a 

 bumble way, I have still given some painstaking attention 

 to the suhject on which I write : — " J'ai l'honneurde vous 

 " informer que la Socidtc d'Acclimatation, sur la proposi- 

 '" tion de sa Commission des recompenses, vous a decerne 

 " une medaille de l crc ' classe pour vos travaux de pisci- 

 " culture dans l'lnde." 



To the Critic. 

 - Spare the Rod !!" 



Acknowledgments. 



For two of my plates,' the Mahseer and the Murrel, 

 I am indebted to the courtesy of Dr. Bidie, Curator of the 

 Government Museum in Madras, who very kindly afforded 

 every facility to my draughtsman. The Barilius Bakeri 

 has been copied by permission from Dr. Day's " Fishes 

 of Malabar." 



II. s. THOMAS. 



MangcUore, April, 1873. 



I m p] ttea have nut been need in the pn -■ 



