Systematic Course. 59 
India and are very destructive to young fish. 
Many of them are excellent eating, The Museum 
contains numerous representatives, 
I11.—Fresk-water Eels.—Numerous species of smooth elong- 
ated fishes found in fresh and brackish water 
throughout India. Many of them descend to the 
sea to lay their eggs. They are said to be destruc- 
tive to fish ova. 
IV.—Murrel.—Several species of almost amphibious fishes, 
which are found in tanks, wells, rivers and other fresh 
water throughout India. They have the head covered 
with plate-like scales and are very destructive to 
young fish. They often have holes in the bank 
where they lie. The Museum contains numerous 
representatives. 
V.—Mugilide (Mullet).—Found in rivers and estuaries, often 
far above tidal influence. They are common in rice- 
fields. Some of them swim like tadpoles with 
their eyes just above the water and are said to be 
good eating. 
Vi.—<Spined Eels.—Elongated fish with sharp spines on the 
back, found in quiet fresh-water pools throughout 
India. ‘They are said to be destructive to fish ova, 
The Museum contains representatives. 
VII.—The Gar-fish.—With enormously produced beak-like 
jaws. The Museum contains a specimen of this 
fish. 
Besides the above, which are all fresh-water fishes, there are in 
India numerous sea and estuary fishes which are largely used as 
food, The students will not be expected to know much about them, 
but should notice that the following are the most important forms. 
Herrings (Clupid@), such as the hilsa, the otl-sardine and the 
so-called white muilet, Vhe Adlsa is a searfish, which ascends 
the rivers of India, especially the Ganges, in vast numbers in the 
rainy season to spawn, and is excellent food until it has done so, 
after which it beeomes thin and unwholesome. The o#/-sardine is 
a smaller fish, which is often very abundant off the Malabar Coast, 
where it is used for making oil. The so-called white mullet is a 
very active fish, to be found in salt and brackish water on the 
West Coast, where it is much esteemed for food. Scopeléda, such as 
the Bombay duck of the sea and estuaries. Perches (Percide), such 
as the red perch of Madras and the éehti of Calcutta. Sparida, 
such as the lack rock cod of Madras. Polyxemida, such as the 
