MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 409 



Secondly, as to the spawning period. We know that spawn is obtainable 

 in Ceylon in February, May and June, that is just before the beginning 

 of and throughout the Ceylon hot weather. How far do these periods 

 vary in the different parts of the Indian Empire ':" 



Thirdly, the male guards his nest and eggs for some time and is known 

 to develop subsequently cannibalistic tendencies. What are the chief 

 enemies which threaten the spawn, larvce and fry ? At what period does 

 the parent drop the role ^ of protector and develop that of destroyer ? 



Fourthly. The spawning habits of the American basses are in some 

 respects analogous to those of the " murral ". It has long been customary 

 in the United States to protect the bass, nest with " a light cylindrical 

 " frame of iron covered with cheese cloth, one end of which protrudes 

 " above the water. This prevents the young fishes from wandering away 

 " from the nest and makes it possible for them to be removed to nursery 

 " ponds with the dip net," - where they are safe from all enemies includ- 

 ing the voracious parents. How can similar precautions be taken in the 

 case of " murral " ? Here is obviously a fine field for experiment by 

 sportsmen and naturalists all over India. 



Fifthly, how many pairs of " murral " should be turned down to breed in 

 (say) one acre of water under ordinary conditions ? 



Sixthly. Can the ova be handled and transferred before they reach the 

 larval stage P 



Seventhly, or is it more economical to stock by transferring young fish ? 



Eiyhthly, if so is it better to put them into the waters in which they are 

 to remain immediately after the absorption of the umbilical sac ? Or at 

 some later period ? On this point Dr. Willey records that on the seventh 

 day thirty of his " surface hatchlings " were eaten up by older fry of an 

 allied species. This indicates clearly the necessity for adequate protection 

 during the helpless period when the fish are suspended at the surface by 

 their buoyant sacs. And it will be particularly interesting to ascertain 

 whether parental care continues up to and beyond this time of extreme 

 danger. Our author has described the feeding of murral fry with 

 mosquito eggs and larvee. Fishes of the seventh day would not touch 

 the culicine egg rafts but would take detached eggs, and also the 

 " minute larvee " as they hatched out. For practical purposes outside 

 of aquaria however it would be impossible to depend on a suflicient supply 

 of culicine larvte to feed large quantities of fish. And if artificial feeding 

 were resorted to, as it would be in nursery ponds, some other form of food 

 would no doubt be efficacious. Finally, what has been done for Ophioce- 

 phalua atriatus should be done for all the other Ophiocephalids, and for all 

 valuable food fishes. Dr. Willey's method should as far as possible be 

 followed. The local poacher 2^ay excellence in India if properly handled 

 will generally produce much valuable information. If this is followed up 

 whether with Dr. Willey's thoroughness by daily observations in aquaria, 

 or by observations in the field aided by a water glass " knowledge of the 

 breeding habits of fishes under natural conditions, " knowledge which 

 Dr. Willey rightly describes as fundamental to economical and sound 

 methods of culture, will soon be collected. A passage occurs in a report 

 by an eminent official writer on Indian fisheries which would no doubt 

 interest Dr. Willey and should be useful in the light of his paper to 

 naturalists in Bengal. He writes : — " The second method (of propagation) 

 " is only found in the suburbs of Calcutta and in the neighbouring districts 



^ Thomas says "till about 2" long-."' Rod in India. Chapt. XXIII. 



^ The C^^ltivation of Fishes in Natural and Artificial Ponds. Charles Huskins 

 Toivnsend, Sc D., Eleventh Annual Report, New York Zoological Society .^ 



