1853.1 887 



i 



Note npon a nest constrticted hy Catfish 

 By Charles Gieard. 



A few days since, in visiting a small pond, situated above Schuylkill Falls vil- 

 lage, an innumerable quantity of small fish were seen along shore, near 

 the surface of the water. On approaching them they all suddenly disappeared, 

 and the water being muddy, we could not tell where they went. A scoop net 

 broujjht to light a subspherical mass, composed exclusively of green confervae, 

 and which after examination proved to be a regular nest, constructed, as we sup- 

 pose, by the parent fish, whose progeny it contained ; for in it. the small fishes 

 seen a moment before near the surface had gone to seek shelter. In all proba- 

 bility, the eggs were deposited in it, and when hatched, the young, instead of 

 dispersing themselves, remain for some time congregated, under the care of the 

 parent who provides food for them. 



The number of young fish gathered around the nest, was at least from three to 

 four hundred, and of different sizes. The largest were about li inch long, and 

 the smallest about | of an inch. This difference in size seems to us, as indicating 

 that eggs had been deposited and fecundated at different periods in the nest. 



They all had the abdomen distended like full grown individuals before spawn- 

 ing. But this was owing to the stomach gorged with food. The skin of the 

 belly was so tender that soon after death it was entirely decomposed, the intes- 

 tine and stomach then appearing outside of the abdominal cavity. 



The structure of the nest was very simple, confervae in strings were disposed 

 circularly all around. The size o{ the entire structure was about eight inches 

 in its longest, and six inches in its shortest diameter. There was at least one 

 opening to get in and out, but this portion of the nest we could not examine 

 thoroughly from the want of clear water ; and after having been kept for some 

 time out of the water, it was entirely deformed. 



The nest laid at the bottom of the pond, one foot and a half deep in that place, 

 and protected by aquatic plants growmg along shore. The water here is never 

 subjected to any violent motion; and thus the soft materials of which it was con- 

 structed, were resistant enough for that particular locality. 



We should think that under other circumstances, as, for instance, a current of 

 water, catfish would construct their nests of a substance more capable of resisting 

 a chance of destruction. 



Further observations will tell us more about this interesting subject, audit is 

 with the hope that some one, more favorably situated than we are, will devote 

 some attention to it, that we have brought before the Academy the very little 

 it was our good fortune to observe on this occasion. 



The Committee on the following papers by Prof. Baird and Mr. 

 Girard, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



Descriptions of New Species of Fishes collected by j\Tr. Join/, H. CJarl-, on the 

 TJ, (S. avd Mexica?i Boundary Survey, under Lt. CoU Jas. D. Graham, 



By SpE?iCER F. Baird and Charles Girard. 



PiLEOMA CARBONARiA, B. and G. Body elongated, subfu-iforra, compressed ; 

 peduncles of the tail slichtly detached from the outline of the body. Head 

 forming about the fifth of the entire length. First dorsal lower than the second, 

 composed of fifteen rays; second dorsal containing thirteen rays, the extremity 

 of the posterior ones extending farther back than those of the anal. The latter 

 have eleven rays, the two anterior of which are short spines. The posterior 

 margin of the caudal is very sliiihtly emarginate and composed of seventeen 

 well developed rays and several rudimentary ones above and below. The ven- 

 trals are lanceolated and composed of one spiny ray and five soft ones; their 

 tip Hxtei'.ds beyond that of the ventrals, and their insertion is a little in advance 

 of the anterior margin of the first dorsal. Their pectorals are broad and com- 

 posed of thirteen rays. 



