156
(b) Cyprimclce.
Genus—Barbus.—sp. B. Camaticus.
(c) Ophiocephalidce.
Genus— Ophoceplialus—sip. O. Striatus.
It was discovered, that the organisms in the blood of certain fish are present in greatest numbers,
during May and June, the hottest months o£ the year, bat decrease or absent themselves after the rains
have fairly set in. When the blood of a fish under observation was examined microscopically and no
Trypanosoma discovered, it was frequently found in the fluid obtained by passing a scalpel gently over
the surface of the gills. At a later date investigations were instituted with a view to discover
whether the blood of: fish obtained from waters in localities where Surra is enzootic, presented any
differences (i) during the hot season, when no cases of the disease exist, (ii) during the early part of the
rains, before the disease has manifested itself in animals. These observations were carried out at
Kathgodam, Kumaun Division, N.W.P., Saharanpur, N.W.P. and Karnal in the South-Punjab.
The following are the results of the hot season's investigation.
A distinction with regard to the presence of hæmatozoa had been previously observed between fish
inhabiting the bottom of ponds and rivers (mud-fish) and those which occupy the water above the mud.
After microscopically examining the blood of a few of the latter in which few or no hæniatozoa were
found, our attention was devoted to the examination' of mud-fish. For the purpose of comparison ex-
amples of the following fish when possible were obtained f rom—
(i) the Western Jumna Canal, running water;
(ii) a pond, stagnant water;
(iii) the old river Jumna at Niawal, back water.
The results of the microscopical examination of the fish examined are as follows :—
* Cachri or chdchari (Punj.).—This fish belongs to the order Accmthopterygii; family
Labyrinthici; genus Trichogaster. It corresponds closely with the species T. Faciatus.
Many specimens were caught in ponds supplied with water from the river- Jumna. These presented
alternate blue and yellow bands descending obliquely downwards and backwards from the back to the
abdomen. The dorsal and anal fins are blue in colour, fringed with a narrow line of red.
Depôt Pond.—In June 1895 the blood of fifteen specimens was examined. One † presented over
200,000 of the small round variety of hæniatozoa in eachc. c. of blood examined. In three fish the
hæmatozoa were swarming (over 50 in a field of the microscope), in one numerous (20), in nine few (5),
and in one specimen no parasites were found.
* TABLE XLVIII.
Giving the measurements of thirteen specimens of Trichogaster for diagnostic purposes.
Serial Number.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Number of coloured bands
on body.
11
12
9
11
12
10
10
11
10
8
8
13
13
Length over all.
Inches.
3½
3¼
3 1/16
3 5/16
3 3/8
3 3/16
3½
3 7/10
3 1/8
3 3/16
3
2
1 7/8
Length of head.
In-
ches.
7/8
3/4
3/ 4
13/ 16
13/ 16
13/16
13/ 16
13/ 16
11/16
11/ 16
11/ 16
½
½
Length of body.
Inches.
1 3/4
13/4
15/8
1 13/16
1 13/16
1 11/16
1 13/16
1 13/16
1 13/16
1 11/16
1 5/8
1 1/16
15/16
Length of tail.
In-
ches.
3/4
3/4
11/ 16
11/16
3/4
11/16
7/8
13/16
5/8
13/ 16
11/16
7/16
7/16
Vertical
height of body.
Length of Pectoral fin.
Inches.
1 1/16
1
1 1/16
l 1/8
1 1/8
1 1/16
1 1/8
1 1/16
1 1/8
1 1/16
1 1/16
1 3/16
3/4
In
ches.
3/4
11/16
3/4
3/4
3/4
3/4
3/4
3/4
11/16
11/ 16
11/ 16
3/ 8
3/8
Pectoral fin, number of
spines.
NUMBR OF
SPINES, DORSAL
FIN.
Anterior por-
tion.
10
10
10
10
9
8
9
9
9
9
9
8
8
16
16
16
16
16
17
16
17
17
16
17
16
16
Posterior por-
tion.
10
9
10
11
10
10
11
10
8
9
10
8
10
NUMBER OF
SPINES, ANAL
FIN.
Anterior por-
tion.
17
16
17
16
16
16
16
17
17
17
17
16
17
Posterior por-
tion.
13
15
14
15
14
15
15
16
15
14
10
15
15
Candal fin, number of
spines.
17
18
17
17
16
16
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Length of pectoral, Ap-
pendages.
Inches.
2 1/8
2 1/8
2
2
1 5/8
2 1/8
2 1/8
2 1/16
2
1 15/16
16
1 3/16
1 1/4
REMARKS.
Bands varied from 8 to
13 in number, total
2S
1
length 128/32 to 3 ½ in-
ches, length of Pecto-
ral fin from 12/32 to 24/32
of an inch, Candal
fin 14/32 to 28/32 inch.
D. 16-17/8-11 P. 8-10, C.
15—18, A.16-17/10-16.
† Negative results followed the inoculation of small animals inoculated with this hæmatozoon.