178 Smaller Fly Takers. CHAP. xn. 



They are deep and thick for their length, so that the full-sized ones are 

 just a little too heavy to flick out. Any fish that cannot be flicked out, 

 but has to be struck fine, with a light quick hand, and then brought out 

 quickly, contents me if there are enough of them ; and I think it is 

 likely to be the same with many of my readers. For the " straight tip " 

 on quick striking with a very fine line, I must refer to the close of the 

 chapter on the Carnatic Carp, and to the mention of a stiff top under 

 Chilwa. 



These fish have the further recommendation that they breed well in 

 ponds, but there they seem, though numerous, to run smaller than in 

 the rivers, presumably from inferior feeding. In the rivers they may 

 be seen rooting busily among the water-weeds, where they find shrimps 

 in abundance, just half-an-inch long, and prawns from i| to ij- of an 

 inch in length, and numerous larvae, from just T 2 ^- to T 9 ^- of an inch long, 

 and little stinging beetles ; and the weed and its seed may be found in 

 their stomachs. 



In the rivers they do not seem to take so well in the mornings as in 

 the evenings, at least not till 8 or 9. Whether they go on rising from 

 that hour through the heat of the day, I never had the leisure to find out. 

 From 2 P.M. I know they take well, and keep at it till after sunset, till 

 it is quite dark. They seem to sit up late, and be heavy in the morning. 

 Bad habits those. In a pond where they were small and hungry, a 

 friend and I got sixty-six before 1 1 A.M. This was at Warranga, near 

 Mudradi. I have had capital fun with these little chaps. 



Order. PHYSOSTOMI. 



Family. CYPRINID^E. 



Sub-Family. CYPRININA. 



Genus. Barbus. 



Sub-Genus. Capoeta, with two barbels. 



Barbus Mahecola. B. in., D. 11 (f), P. 15, V. 9, A. 7 (f), C. 19, L. 1. 21, 

 L. tr. 5/4. 



Sub-genus. Puntius, without barbels. 



Barbus filamentosus. B. iii., D. 11 (), P. 15, V. 9, A. 7 (f), C. 19, 

 L.I. 21, L. tr. 4/4. 



THE OLIVE CARP. 

 Barbus chrysopoma. 



Of this fish I have caught but few, and he is not worth a great deal, 

 but as he will take a fly, and will live in ponds, he can be used to stock 



