30 FISH HATCHING. 



relative parts taken by the male and female 

 parent fish in making the nest, in AYhich 

 the female deposits her eggs, I am enabled to 

 give the following important evidence from 

 Mr. C. F. Walsh, of Dundee. He writes to 

 me thus : — 



" SiE, — Xow, I have seen hundreds of fish 

 in the act of spawning — I have seen as many 



as thirty brace engaged in the operation at 

 one time, but I never saw the male fish take 

 any part in the w^ork ; WiQ fanning up of the 

 gravel is all done by the female. I say 

 fanning, because I never saw any boring of 

 the head into the ground ; the female turns 

 on her side, and by strong undulations drives 

 up a cloud of gravel from her tail. How she 

 contrives to remain on the same spot I cannot 

 say ; but as they always spawn in a strong 



