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sea about February for the purpose of breeding in the river, 

 from which it again descends to the salt-water about the 

 end of September or commencement of October, after which 

 none, even young, can be found. They are only taken in 

 dhdnds, stagnant pieces of water or canals, due to some 

 accidental cause or unnatural obstruction having obliged 

 them to turn aside from their natural breeding-grounds. 

 The main body of these fish swarm up the large rivers of India 

 and Burma generally as soon as the S. W. monsoon 

 commences, but not always at the same period, such ap- 

 parently at times being dependant upon the rapidity of the 

 current and other causes. That it is not solely due to the 

 presence of rain-water is shown by the Indus and Irrawadi ; 

 in the former, the floods are mainly caused by melted snows 

 at this period (see para. VI), whilst in the Irrawadi these fish 

 push on to Upper Burma, to which country the S. W, 

 moonson scarcely extends, and there the inundations are 

 also due to melting snows. One reason why periods of 

 flood are selected as those for breeding, appears to be due 

 to their being practically acquainted with the fact, that at these 

 times the shallows are covered with water, rendering ascent 

 practicable, consequently they now come up to deposit their 

 ova, which is always done in the rivers, never in tanks or 

 canals. Amongst the non-migratory herrings, some species, as 

 Engraulis Chatoessus and the Corica suborna, appear to breed 

 in rivers or even tanks. 



XXXIX. There are also a few other fishes which, 



Eelg &c however, are not much esteemed as 



food, some of which belong to the 



order Physostomi. In the eel-like family, Symbranchidte, 

 but generally in fresh -waters or marshy places not far 

 removed from the sea level, is found the curious AmphipnoMs 

 cuchia, Amongst the true eels, Muranidce, there are several 

 species which are taken in fresh and brackish waters, but it is 

 only Angullla Bengalensis that appears to live at some 

 distance inland. 



XL. In the order LOPHOBHANCHII, a little pipe-fish 

 _ . . .. is very commonly found in rivers, 



Lopuobrancliiate order of -, . ' n j -i , i 



fishes. and in some places is termed the cro- 



codile's tooth, from an idea that it is 



the vivified tooth of one; of these reptiles, in other districts it is 

 called the crocodile's tooth-pick, from the use which it is said 

 to be to those animals. It is the Iclithyocampus carce, and as 

 food is useless. 



