INDIAN FISH AND FISHING. 33 



ing ; thus the ova, when hatched, are completely cut off 

 from the locality where their parents reside, precluding the 

 possibility of their devouring them. The fry, consequently, 

 have the heads of the rivers to themselves in perfect security, 

 and each torrent becomes transformed into a small stream 

 intersected by pools, where they can remain until the next 

 rains enable them to descend to the larger rivers. Of the 

 migratory fishes of the plains, we may observe many forms 

 of carp, and this is more particularly perceptible where 

 impassable weirs exist across the rivers ; here they may be 

 perceived attempting to jump over the obstruction, and so 

 common is this phenomenon that the natives of India hang 

 baskets, cloths, even native cots turned upside down, or 

 anything equally suitable, over the sides of the piers, and 

 into this the fish fall. 



In Asiatic waters we have monogamous and polygamous 

 forms of fish and other phenomena as to breeding, which 

 deserve attention. The walking, or snake-headed fishes, 

 OphiocephalidcB, of India, and other amphibious genera, are 

 perhaps the best known of monogamous fishes ; some of 

 them reside in ponds, others prefer rivers, where they take 

 up their residence in deserted holes, which they find in the 

 banks. The pond species delight in lying at the grassy 

 margins, where the water is not deep enough to cover 

 them ; and here they are able to respire atmospheric air 

 direct. The striped walking-fish constructs a nest with its 

 tail among the vegetation, and bites off the ends of the 

 water weeds ; here the ova are deposited, the male keeping 

 guard ; but should he be killed or captured, the vacant 

 post is filled by his partner. The hissar, Callichthys, of 

 South America, is likewise monogamous, constructing a nest 

 which it also defends. The majority of fishes unquestion- 

 ably are polygamous, as has been repeatedly observed, and 



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