Major Gcii. Hardwicke on the Goramy of India. 311 



to the Zoological Society? One of the professed objects of its illustrious 

 Founder, the late Sir Stamford Raffles, was to benefit his country in this 

 way through the medium of the Society's exertions, by every practicable 

 opportunity. Here then one is offered to their notice and attention, and 

 we niay, I trust, look with confidence to those members who possess a 

 voice in its councils, for the adoption of early means for the discharge of 

 so legitimate a duty of the Institution. 



In the country in which I had an opportunity of observing the habits of 

 the Goramies it will be remembered that they had actually been natural- 

 ized in the manner in which it is hoped they will ere long be among our- 

 selves. Originally inhabitants of the fresh waters of China, they are 

 also plentiful in those of Java, where, as Dr. Horsfield informs me, they 

 constitute an important article of provision which is sold in the markets. 

 They were first imported into the Isle of France by the commandant of 

 the troops of that colony, M. de Sere ; and the first individuals are stated 

 to have exhibited little shyness, and to have appeared almost domesti- 

 cated, if such a term may be applied to a fish. So early as 1770, when 

 Commerson visited the Island, they had already become abundant, having 

 spread from the tanks, in which they were at first kept, into the rivers, 

 where they multiplied with great facility and preserved all their good 

 qualities. La Cep^de, who first described and figured them from the 

 materials collected by Commerson, was struck with the advantages to be 

 derived from the naturalization in Europe of so valuable a fish, and he 

 expressed a fervent hope that pains might be taken to secure for France 

 " une nourriture peu chere, exquise, salubre, et tres abondante." 



I am not aware whether any attempts were made in consequence of this 

 suggestion, but at a more recent period the transmission of living Go- 

 ramies has been effected to the French West India Islands, and the 

 experiment affords the most flattering hopes of permanent success. Se- 

 veral statements respecting it have already appeared before the public, of 

 which I prefer adding to this paper that contained in the fourth volume 

 of the " Annales Maritimes et Coloniales, 1827," ^s it embraces also 

 some very interesting details respecting the natural history of the Go- 

 ramy. As that book may not be generally in the hands of English 

 Naturalists, I will take from it the substance of the memoir. 



It is recorded, that one hundred specimens of this fish, in a young 



