12 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. XXIV, 



stones near the margins and a species of Glossosiphonia was found 

 parasitic on V. bengalensis mandiensis. Dragon-fly larvae, both 

 Libellulids and Aeschnids, were fairly common, but the number of 

 aquatic Hemiptera and Coleoptera was very small; in Malwa Tal 

 the Hemiptera were a little more numerous. A special feature of 

 Bhim Tal was the large numbers of Chironomid larvae which were 

 living in tubes attached to submerged stones and tree-trunks. 

 Molluscs of the genera Limnaca, Gyraulus, Segmentina, Hippeutis 

 and Sphaerium were found in varying numbers in almost all the 

 lakes, but V. bengalensis mandiensis was only found in Naini Tal 

 and Khurpa Tal. The conditions as to Crustacea were identical 

 with what was found to be the case by Dr. Kemp in 191 1. 

 Fishes of the genera Oreinus, Barilius, Barbus and Ophiocephalus 

 were common in all the lakes, and a species of the genus Labeo 

 was also found in Malwa Tal. 



Sariya Tal. 



This is a rather small lake, or rather a marsh in the course of 

 a rapid hill-stream. It is situated at a distance of about three 

 miles to the west of and at a slightly lower level than Naini Tal. 

 It is a depression in the course of the hill-stream with about 3 to 

 8 feet of water ; the area is not very large and the current in the 

 lake is much slower than in the hill-stream. The entire area at 

 the time of our visit supported a very thick vegetation consisting 

 mainly of Chara, Potamogeton and large quantities of algae. 



No Sponges or Polyzoa were seen. Dragon-fly larvae of 

 Sympetrum sp., 1 all too young to identify specifically, were fairly 

 abundant. The Molluscan fauna was very poor; only a few 

 Limnaeae and Planorbids were found after careful search. 



Khurpa Tal. 



Khurpa Tal is situated at a distance of about five miles from 

 Naini Tal at an altitude of 5365 ft. It occupies a nearly circular 

 depression surrounded on all sides by high hills. The area during 

 the dry season is rather small, but the lake becomes much more 

 extensive during the rains. The lake was stated to be over ten 

 feet deep near the middle, though near the margins it is quite 

 shallow. It is not fed by any streams and there is no regular 

 outflow of water. At the time of our visit there was 110 real 

 aquatic vegetation and the water was quite clear. 



The fauna, which was very poor, consisted of the same spe- 

 cies of fish as are found in the other lakes, a few dragon-fly larvae 

 of the species Anax parthenope Selys, some Limnaeae and large 

 numbers of V. bengalensis mandiensis along the banks, feeding on 

 algae growing on stones. No Planorbids were seen. 



' I am indebted to Major F. C. Fraser, I. M.S., for die identifications of the 

 dragon-fly larvae. 



