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Show 1867] MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 283 OPHIOCEPHALUS STRIATUS, Bloch. Curroopoo verarl (Tam.). The Black Verarl. B.v. D.42. P. 16. V.6. A. 24. C. 13. L.l. 56. L;'tr. £=*3 10-8 * Both this and the last species commenced breeding in June, when the south-west monsoon began. Large specimens are difficult to convey long distances alive, because they knock themselves about, and cause such injuries that, if they reach their destination, they generally die in a few days. Some young ones were placed in the Ootacamund Lake. OPHIOCEPHALUS GACHUA, Buch. Ham. Kor ava (Tam.). B.v. D. 32. P.15. V. 6. A. 16. C. 9. L.l. 41. L. tr .j. This fish is exceedingly common in the Bowany, where it is frequently captured up to one foot in length. The very young has generally a light edging to its dorsal fin, but no red colour is apparent except in the pectoral ; an ocellus is invariably present in the posterior portion of the dorsal fin. The adult has its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins margined with bright orange, most developed in the males. At first difficulty was experienced in conveying these fish alive up the ghawts ; but finally it was found that when one-fourth (or a little less) of the chatty was first filled with mud and then water added the difficulty vanished. The following incidents will show how exceedingly tenacious of life these fish are:-At Culhutty, on July 19th, 1866, a Cooly accidentally turned one out of a tin can of water; this took place at 6 P.M., when the temperature of the air was 69°; the occurrence remained undiscovered until 8.45 P.M., or nearly three hours subsequently, when the fish was found on the gravel-path outside the house. It was quite well, had suffered no injury, and some days late* was placed in the Ootacamund Lake. A few days subsequently a still more interesting circumstance occurred with one of these fish:-On July 27th, 1866, I was riding from Mettapolliam to Wellington, and on passing the Kullaar Bridge at 4.45 P.M. obtained a young one of this species. Having nothing else in which to place him, I moistened my pocket-handkerchief, within which I rolled him up, being careful to leave the head exposed. An hour subsequently I took him out of m y coat-pocket and put him into a small stream of water by the side of the road; he gave three gasps, was then as well as ever, and was again consigned to the pocket. At 6.45 P.M. the dipping was repeated, and at 8.45 P.M., on m y arrival at Wellington, he was quite well. The succeeding morning he was put into the Coonoor stock-pond, and on August 2nd removed, along with fourteen others, into the Ootacamund Lake. The vitality must be great in a fish which, as in this instance, bore an ascent of nearly 5000 feet, carried in a wet pocket-handkerchief |