282 MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. [Mar. 14, 



be placed in the Ootacamund Lake and the Pykara River : — the 

 Ophiocephalus jnandius, O. striatus, Laheoharbus tor, and Pun- 

 tius carnaticus, all of which breed in the Bowany River, at the 

 foot of the Neilgherries, on the Coimbatore side. The period 

 to obtain the young fish is during the months of September and 

 October. 



Whilst employed as stated I took the opportunity of investigating 

 and collecting all the indigenous varieties on the plateau, slopes, and 

 rivers flowing around the bases of these hills, except upon their 

 western side. During the course of my researches I obtained thirty- 

 six species, many of which appear to be new. 



The almost complete absence of Acanthopterygians was very re- 

 markable ; for, with the exception of the Eel-like Mastacembelidce 

 and the Ophiocej)halidce, whose title to rank as such might almost 

 be open to dispute, none were captured ; even the Gobiidce, so uni- 

 versall}^ distributed throughout India, seemed to be absent. On the 

 other hand, some species hitherto only recorded from Northern 

 Bengal and the Deccan obtained a place in my collection. 



The fishes mentioned in this paper may be divided into : — those 

 of the upper })lateau of the hills, from 5000 to 7000 feet elevation, 

 where only one species, Paradanio neilgherriensis, sp. nov., exists; 

 secondly, those on the lower slopes, from 2000 to 4000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. From the rapids on the slopes of the Neilgher- 

 ries one small Roach (Nemac/ieilus guentheri, sp. nov.), a little Carp 

 (Puntius grayi, sp. nov.), and what is commonly and erroneously 

 called " a Trout" (Barilius rugosus, sp. nov.), were taken. Besides 

 these species in the Seegoor River, which is not rapid, but nearly 

 3000 feet above the sea, and takes a long winding course into the 

 rivers of the plains, the Ophiocephalus gachua, Buch. Ham., the 

 Neniacheilus seniiarmafus, sp. nov., the Garra gotyla, Gray, the 

 G. jerdoni, sp. nov., the Puntius carnaticus, Jerdon, and the Pa- 

 radanio aurolineatus. Day, were found to be indigenous. The 

 Bowany River, flowing along the base of the hills at an elevation 

 of only 1000 feet above the sea, contained most of the foregoing 

 species, as well as twenty-seven others. ' For stocking the waters of 

 the hills those fish which were found to inhabit the highest levels 

 were preferred. 



The following is a list of the species obtained, and specimens of 

 which I still possess : — 



Ophiocephalus marulius, Buch. Ham, 



Poo verarl (Tam.). The flower of the Verarls. 



B. V. D. 51. P. 16. V. 1/6. A. 35. C. 13. L. 1. 60. 



T tr ^-^ 

 ^- ^^- 13-14- 



The coloration of this species, when captured in the Bowany, agreed 

 with Colonel Sykes's ' Fishes of the Dukhun,' pi. 60. f. 3. The 

 young were greenish, with about five stripes passing backwards on 

 the sides, and a yellowish ocellus on the posterior part of the dorsal 

 fin. A few of these were placed in the Ootacamund Lake. 



