PREFACE. 



ously into the margin; and so in this little book any- 

 thing ever so slightly ring-tailed will be found 

 condemned to a foot-note, or to the close company 

 of a plain Saxon synonym. 



But lest this seeming rudeness to natural his- 

 tory should scare away some that might otherwise 

 do me the honor of at least a cursory reading, I 

 think I had better present my letter of introduction. 

 The following letter and the handsome accompany- 

 ing Medal, which I had the honor of receiving from 

 the Acclimatization Society of Paris, is the best 

 evidence that though in a humble way, I have 

 still given some painstaking attention to the sub- 

 ject on which I write. "J'ai l'honneur de vous 

 "informer que la Socie'te' d'Acclimatation, sur la 

 "proposition de sa Commission des recompenses, 

 "vous a de'cerne' une me'daille de l ere - classe pour 

 "vos travaux de pisciculture dans l'lnde." 



To the Critic. 

 "Spare the Rod"!! 



Acknowledgments. 

 For two of my plates, the Mahseer, and the Mur- 

 rel, I am indebted to the courtesy of Dr. Bidie, 



