HABITS, BREEDING, ETC. 
193 
Often, in places where rivers or streams issue from 
the hilly country into the plains, large, deep, and 
clear pools of water are to he found, sometimes run- 
ning for long distances into the hills overshadowed by 
precipitous cliffs. In places of this sort the Mahaseer, 
Kalabans, and other large Cyprinoids may be seen in 
thousands lying near the bottom during the months of 
December, January, and February. In the Ganges 
above Hurdwar, for instance, where the water is 
brilliantly clear, although the stream is swift, I have 
seen, on looking over the side of a boat, thou- 
sands upon thousands of large fish crowded 
together. 
I fancy the fact is that food is scarce at this time of 
year, the water weeds and vegetation die off and 
become rotten, and there are no insects or small fry 
about for the larger fish to feed upon. It is thus a 
necessity of then- existence that at this time of year 
they should lie quiet and lead a semi-torpid kind of 
life, without caring to feed much, or to exert them- 
selves by moving about, which would only increase 
their appetites. 
In some parts of the country, where tanks abound 
which are apt to dry up altogether, several kinds of 
fish bury themselves in the mud, and are often dug 
out alive from thence by the natives. This fact, 
extraordinary as it may appear, has been so well 
attested by several observers as to leave no doubt of 
its actual truth. In this way it happens that on the 
first fall of rain full-grown fish are sometimes to be 
o 
