MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 165 



TEIBE MEEGITORES. CHAP, viii, 



FAMILY PODICIPID^. PAR^I. 



Podiceps Philippensis. The Little Grebe. Zoology. 



FISHES. 

 The streams ou the higher parts of the range contain very few Fishes, 

 fishj compared with what would be found in similar waters in 

 any part of Europe. Standing by the Paikare river^ for instance, 

 during a fresh, it is with a feeling of regret that one contemplates 

 the utter barrenness of a stream apparently so well suited in 

 every way to nourish hosts of fish, and afford sport for the lovers 

 of the '' gentle art. ^' In 1866 Dr. Day attempted to introduce 

 trout into the Nilagiri waters, but from various causes the experi- — Dr. Day's 

 ment failed.^ A full account of these experiments will be found fntrocfuce fish 

 in Dr. Day^s first report, printed in Government Proceedings, 28th from the low 

 June 1866, No. 650, and of his further experiments to introduce guropZ ^"""^ 

 fish from the low country in his second report, printed with their 

 Proceedings of 9th May 1867, No. 1,052. These reports contain 

 valuable contributions to the natural history of the district. 

 Subsequently the late Mr. W. G. Mclvor deposited live trout, 

 tench, (the common sort, and also the beautiful German variety), 

 rudd, carp, gold-fish and silver eels in the Ootacamand lake 

 and several streams on the higher parts of the range.^ Of the 

 tro^it some were said to have been subsequently caught in a 

 stream near Neduwattum, and some in a pool in the Paikare river 

 above the Bungalow towards the close of the year 1875.^ These 

 were seen and pronounced by Mr. H. S. Thomas to be undoubtedly 

 trout. Of the other species the carp and tench have multiplied 

 in the lake and elsewhere. The rest do not seem to have survived. 

 Dr. Day also introduced Barhus Carnaticus into the Ootacamand 

 and Bellikal lakes."* Whether these are living in the former is not 

 known, but those put into the latter are flourishing. Subse- 

 quently Mr. H. S. Thomas deposited Lobes calbases and L. nigres- 

 cens in a pond on the Adderley estate. These lived long enough 

 to show they would stand the change of climate, but afterwards 

 got into the coffee-pulper and were killed. Finally in 1877 

 Mr. Knox and Mr. Wapshare introduced into the Paikare river 



' An attempt had previously been made in 1863, by Mr. E. C. G. Thomas, 

 which also failed. 



- Lady Napier and Ettrick placed the first fish in the Ootacamand Lake in 

 August 1869. 



^ A full account of the method adopted by Mr. Mclvor will be found in the 

 Proceedings of the Madras Government, 6th January 1868, No. 31 ; 5th August 

 1869, No, 2,262 ; and G.O., 23rd August 1873, No. 899. 



■• Good M4h-seer (large carp, Barbus mosal) fishing may be had in the large 

 streams at the base of the Nilagiris, see Mk. Thomas' Rod in India, 1873.— Ed. 



