310 Major Gen. Hardwicke on the Gorumy of India. 



on the outer side of which the parent fishes continued to pass to and 

 fro. I saw them often for many days after, though I had not the oppor- 

 tunity to notice their total dispersion from the spot. 



The largest of the Goramies I met with was in length 1 9 inches, and 

 in transverse diameter, 7^. I was told that few were taken of a larger 

 size, and none exceeding it more than a few inches. Having the oppor- 

 tunity of examining this specimen while alive, I made a short descrip- 

 tion of it, which I will annex to these remarks, together with a drawing 

 of a specimen of smaller size which I wish you would publish, if you 

 see no good reason to the contrary. The figure [Tab. Supp. xxxvi.] is 

 made from a specimen in the collection of the Zoological Society, sent 

 direct from China, its native country. 



The late lamented Marquis of Hastings, when Governor General of 

 India, caused some pairs to be imported, and placed in the fine fresh 

 water preserves in the park at Barrackpore, near Calcutta : but the issue 

 was unsuccessful ; the voracious fish which infest most of the tanks in 

 Bengal, it is supposed, destroyed them, and I believe the experiment was 

 not repeated. We may hope, however, that the attempt to give to our 

 Indian settlements so desirable an acquisition will be repeated, and that 

 not only the naturalization of these fishes may be effected in Ind-la, but 

 the transmission of them be secured in favour of our native island, 

 Great Britain. 



We have sufficient evidence of the practicability of such a measure, 

 in the existence of the Gold and Silver Fish of China, which have been 

 naturalized both in England and in many parts of the Continent of 

 Europe. The efforts now making in this country to promote the natural 

 sciences, will, it is to be hoped, stimulate some naturalist to new 

 exertions, to procure the addition of so fine a fish as the Goramy to 

 the edible fishes of our own country ; no individuals have better oppor- 

 tunities of effecting it than the Commanders of the Honourable the East 

 India Company's Ships trading to China ; the sanction of the Court would 

 no doubt be easily obtained ; and the individual who may be actuated to 

 make such a contribution to the useful products of his country, would be 

 amply compensated for his trouble, by the advantage he would confer, 

 and the grateful acknowledgments he would merit from his countrymen. 

 But where, let me ask, have we a greater right to look for this boon, than 



