20 FISH HATCHING. 



rightly says that ^yants further investigation. 

 I beg to inform him that the same great 

 variety exists in the colour of grayling ova, 

 though the parents in that fish are not red- 



fleshecl. Moreover, the same variety exists 

 in the colour of the yolks of our matutinal 

 eggs, and ^ve don't have red-fieshecl hens. 

 Tlie pale and the red fish ova are equall}" 

 fertile, and the colour does not depend on 

 the age of the parents. These two points 

 I have proved. I cannot believe it to depend 

 on colour of flesh, and therefore attribute 

 it solely to variety in feeding." 



Fish ova are exceedingly hard and tough, 

 and very elastic, rebounding from the floor 

 like an india-rubber ball. This is a beautiful 

 provision to prevent them being crushed 

 and otherwise injured by the stones and by 



