P. H. Bahr 
145 
Nature 
of Breeding 
Ground 
Paddv 
Rock 
Railway 
Fields 
Pool 
Cutting 
M. barbirostris 
19 
47 
— 
M. rossii 
26 
42 
14 
M. sinensis 
15 
7 
— 
M. culieifacies 
3 
— 
7 
M. fuliginosus 
1 
— 
— 
M. jamesi 
2 
•— 
— 
M. punctulata 
i 
— 
— 
Total examined 
67 
96 
21 
The water from these various areas containing larvae was placed in 
separate cages, as has already been related. Each mosquito hatched 
was identified. 
From this table it will be readily gathered that a greater variety 
and higher proportion of malaria-conveying anophelines have been 
bred from paddy fields than from elsewhere. In this connection I 
must consider shortly the natural enemies of the mosquito larvae in 
the paddy fields. These are : 
(1) Lcirvivorous fish; of these four varieties are found, three of 
which are surface feeders, as follows : 
(a) “ Pathia ” ( Barbus stigma), a most efficient larvivore; 
(b) “ Dandie ” ( Rasbora lanicornius ); 
(c) “ Sudaya ” (Danio malabaricus ); 
(d) “Ahirawa” (Lepidociphalicthys thermalis), a bottom feeding fish. 
These species are found in all paddy fields when in flood. In the 
first instance, they escape from the tanks and are carried to the fields 
by the irrigation channels ; it is thought, however, that a certain number 
are carried to remote blocks as spawn on the feet of water birds. As 
far as is known, they all multiply in the paddy fields, provided that there 
is sufficient water. Gunasekara has made numerous observations on 
their larvivorous propensities. It appears that these species will only 
feed on live larvae. Many of the anopheline larvae have in conse¬ 
quence adopted the habit of shamming death, and many doubtlessly 
escape by this means. It is a fallacy to think, however, that whenever 
these fish are found in paddy fields no larvae can be found at the same 
time. This is not so. There are several explanations of this fact: 
(а) Larvae are generally found in the “ seepage ” water which 
has filtered through the bunds, leaving the fish behind. 
(б) In the larger pools which form in the paddy fields the larvae 
are found at the edges of the pools, while the fish keep the centre. 
