1 70 The Carnatic Carp. CHAP, xu 



dorsal 3/4 as high as the body with a concave upper edge ; it commences 

 anterior to the insertion of the ventral, and midway between the snout and 

 the base of the caudal fin \ its last undivided ray is a strong, broad, smooth 

 spine, nearly as long as the head in the immature, and sometimes longer 

 in the adult, especially in specimens from Canara. Pectoral as long or 

 rather longer than the head. Anal laid flat reaches the caudal. Lateral 

 line complete, 3! rows of scales between it and the base of the ventral 

 fin ; 12 rows anterior to the dorsal fin. Free portion of the tail as high 

 at its base as it is long. Colours greenish-brown along the back, becoming 

 dull white, glossed with gold on the sides and beneath. Fins greyish. 

 Eyes golden. 



Habitat. Rivers along the bases of the Neilgherries, Wynaad, and 

 South Canara hills. It attains at least 25 Ibs. in weight. Some have 

 been introduced into the Ootacamund Lake. The figure is from a young 

 specimen, life-size, the dorsal spine not being well- developed, and the snout 

 not so obtuse as in older specimens. 



N.B. The figure which I have introduced is from a mature 7-lb. fish. 



Mr. J. E. Welborne (Hatti Shikaree), of Assam, says (Asian, 

 loth June, 1879) that the Assam Bookha is somewhat similar to the 

 Carnatic Carp. From Dr. Day's description it would seem to be very 

 similar, and I hope the same angling tactics may be found to answer 

 for its capture also. I therefore make a short indicative extract from 

 Dr. Day's work : 



Barbus hexagonolepis, Bokar and Boolooah, Assam, with 4 barbels 

 <Barbodes) and last undivided ray osseous and entire. B. Hi., D. 12 (f) 

 P. 17, V. 9, A. 7 (f) C. 19. L. 1. 28-31, L. tr. 41/41. Habitat, Assam, in 

 the larger rivers, and those from the Himalayas. It attains upwards of 

 2 ft. in length, and takes a fly or bait freely . . . McClelland considered 

 Cyprinus putitora, Ham. Buch., as a variety of this species. It is said to 

 attain 9 ft. in length. 



In the Jaldoka, a tributary of the Teesta, I have taken Barbus 

 Dukai, with a small spoon such as I would use for Carnatic Carp. It 

 was very like that fish, only of a bronze colour. Its formula is in 

 Chapter VIII. of " Tank Angling." 



If you will glance through that chapter you will see that I have 

 similarly mentioned Barbus curmuca, Barbus lithopidos (the stone- 

 coloured Carp), and Barbus Jerdoni, giving their formula. 



