1867.] MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 281 



5. On tlie Fishes of the Neilgherry Hills and Rivers around 

 their Bases. By Surgeon Francis Day, F.Z.S., F.L.S. 



During the period Sir William Denison, K.C.B., F.Z.S., was Go- 

 vernor of Madras, the absence from the waters of the Neilgherry 

 Hills of all but an insignificant species of fish, Paradanio neilgher- 

 riensis, sp. nov., attracted attention. It was universally considered 

 desirable that fish should be introduced into the Ootacamund Lake, 

 which is \\ mile in length and 7600 feet above the level of the sea, 

 as well as into the Pykara River, which is only about 1500 feet 

 lower down. The presence of the finny tribes, it was surmised, 

 would be very acceptable in this magnificent sanitarium, both as 

 affording sport for anglers and food for convalescents and the general 

 public. 



To carry out this design, I was instructed early in 1866 to convey 

 Trout-ova in ice overland from England to Madras. This experi- 

 ment having failed from various causes, more especially the high 

 temperature of the water on the hills, some substitute appeared ne- 

 cessary ; and as on examination I found the fauna to be almost en- 

 tirely tropical, I suggested and obtained leave to remain four months 

 longer for the purpose of attempting the introduction of fishes from 

 the plains. Unfortunately about one month before the allotted time 

 had expired, when the best mode of carriage had been discovered, 

 after the species unadapted for transit had been ascertained, and 

 others successfully introduced, my services were required for tempo- 

 rary regimental duty at Kurnool, and there was no one available to 

 complete the experiment. 



It appears advisable to record what has been accomplished, or at 

 some future date naturalists visiting these hills may be at a loss to 

 explain the presence of Eels, Ophiocephalidee, and other fishes of 

 the plains at the summit of such an elevated plateau, and erroneous 

 deductions as to their geographical distribution might be the con- 

 sequence. 



An account of this experiment, or the obstacles which had to be 

 surmounted, upon endeavours at first unsuccessful but finally over- 

 come, would be too long for recording here. So I will merely observe 

 that most of the Siluroids died of cold whilst being carried up the 

 ghawts, as the water in the earthern chatties in which they were 

 being conveyed became 'cooled by evaporation or the direct action 

 of the cold cutting winds which at night time sweep those mountain- 

 ous roads ; the Cyprinidce and OpJdocephalidcB when large knocked 

 themselves about so much during their transit that they either 

 perished whilst " en route,''' or a few days after reaching their desti- 

 nation ; that finally a stock-pond had to be instituted halfway, 

 where the fish could rest before being carried into Ootacamund, 

 whilst only the young of the various species were taken, and that 

 several varieties appear to have been successfully introduced. It is 

 to be regretted that the experiment was not completed, to do which 

 two dozen more of each of the four following species ought to 



