A NATURALIST IN BRAZIL 



protruded: a truly uncanny spectacle. But this only increases its 

 interest for the naturaUst. When the breeding-season approaches the 

 cells begin to form on the back of the female, finally assuming the 

 form of little basins. Now the male climbs on to her back, and 

 the female thrusts her long everted intestine, which is at the same 

 time an oviduct, between their two bodies. The pressure exerted 

 by the male forces the eggs out, when they fall into the cells, which 

 have special self-closing covers. In due time the developing larvae 

 burst the covers, and at first each protrudes a long tail, which 

 seems to serve as a respiratory organ, and later on its legs, after 

 which they forsake their hospitable parent. 



With a glance at Chile, where the "Nosed Frog" swallows the 

 eggs, which develop in the throat-pouch of the male, compressing 

 the poor creature's stomach so that he is at last unable to eat, until 

 his offspring relieve him by jumping out of his mouth, we will pass 

 on to another subject. 



It is a strange fact that all the stages which we have rehearsed in 

 describing the parental care of the Frogs are repeated in the case 

 of the Fish. But among them we observe an even subtler elaboration 

 of the problem to be solved. 



A whole family of fishes hatch their eggs in their mouths. Of this 

 family we find in Brazil a whole series of handsome and savoury 

 fresh-water fishes, such as the Acaras, the Joanninhas of southern 

 Brazil, and the Tucunares of the north. Some of these fish lay their 

 eggs in any suitable place, and by fanning them with their fins 

 provide a constant supply of fresh, oxygenated water. When the 

 young fish are hatched they take them into their mouths and spit 

 them out into carefully prepared hollows; and they then continue 

 to watch over them until the little creatures are able to swim. 



The smaller species of this family are favourite aquarium-fish, 

 and it is delightful to see the father, surrounded by his offspring, 

 take them into his mouth at a threat of danger. For in these species 

 it is usually the father who fosters the young; the mother is often 

 such an unnatural parent that the father has to be constantly on 

 his guard lest she should devour her eggs or the young fry ! 



But there are fish of this family which actually incubate their 



eggs in their mouths; and in these species it is usually the female 



to which this task is allotted. In such fish the head absolutely bulges 



with all the eggs in the pharynx. Matters are even worse when the 



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