( 34 ) 



the vacant post is filled by his partner. When the fry are 

 hatched out, they are defended by their parents with great 

 courage. They may generally be perceived swimming just 

 below the surface of the water in one or two lines a little 

 above their progenitors. As they increase in size they are 

 usually driven away by their parents, or are said to be even 

 eaten by them if they do not disperse and search for sub- 

 sistence for themselves. In South Canara, the Ophioceplialus 

 striatus, O. diplogramme, and O. marulins, are stated to breed 

 in December and January ; the last also to again do so in 

 June and July, at which period the O. gachua is believed 

 to lay its eggs. Mr. Thomas observes the Nandus mar- 

 moratus and N. marginatus also build nests amongst the 

 rushes at the margin of the water, deposit their eggs therein, 

 and keep guard over them like sticklebacks. Some of the 

 gobies, Gobius, are probably monogamous, as they construct 

 regular nests for the reception of their young. The polyga- 

 mous non-migratory fishes of the plains are very numerous, 

 but by " non -migratory" must be understood that they do 

 not migrate long distances for breeding purposes. The 

 smaller carps are innumerable in places, as are also the 

 siluroid magurs, Clarias magur, and the scorpion fishes, 

 Saccobranclms fossilis. All these sorts during the rains pass 

 up small water-courses or channels in order to deposit their 

 eggs in irrigated fields, flooded plains, temporary formed 

 tanks, or along the grassy sides of rivers. 



L. Of the migratory fresh-water fishes of the plains, 



Migratory fresh- water fishes and which do not apparently, as 



of the plains. a ru ] e? ascenc [ to the rivers of the 



hills to breed during the freshes, they are generally larger 

 and stronger than the non-migratory. Amongst them there 

 do not appear to be any of the spiny-rayed or Acanthoptery- 

 gian order (see para. XXVII). Amongst the carps, Cypri- 

 nidce (see para. XXXIV), a considerable number are 

 affected by the monsoons, and at periods of inundation 

 migrate for the purpose of breeding. A good illustration of 

 this may be seen at the bridge over the Hohri canal near 

 Sakkar, in Sind, and which is furnished with sluices, 

 which can be kept open or closed in accordance with the 

 amount of water which it is considered desirable should be 

 permitted to enter. A little further on is a fall in the bed 

 of the canal, which, however, becomes imperceptible when 

 the water is high. As the yearly floods commence, many of the 

 Dumra fish, Labeo rohita, go down the canal into the dhdnds 



