1 6 BERTRAM G. SMITH. 



their position indefinitely, and lie for many minutes motionless 

 except for the frequently occurring rapid vibration of their bodies. 

 The spawning position is exactly the same as that observed in the 

 open, but the performance is greatly prolonged, and spawning 

 doubtless much more effective. Frequently, groups of four or 

 even more fishes were seen lying alongside, with their bodies in 

 close contact ; occasionally a group of six, composed of two trios, 

 each consisting of a single female, spawning with two males. 



One marked variation from the usual spawning method was 

 observed. A female in very shallow water spawned with a single 

 male, which crowded her laterally against some pebbles and 

 curved his tail up over her body, thus holding her firmly against 

 the bottom. His body vibrated rapidly and the water became 

 <:loudy with milt. 



Some further observations on the spawning behavior were ob- 

 tained by the study of a small school which occupied an aban- 

 doned dace's nest. When first observed, this school consisted 

 of a dozen or more males, crowded closely together in the hol- 

 low of the nest. Occasional females approached shyly from 

 down stream, singly, or two or three in succession ; sometimes 

 darting rapidly, as if excited or frightened, up the middle of the 

 stream ; again keeping close to the shore, and occasionaHy seek- 

 ing cover. The arrival of a female created intense excitement 

 amongsi the males in the nest. They immediately crowded 

 around her, pressing alongside and against her in the hollow of 

 the nest. After spawning, the males devoted considerable atten- 

 tion to prying about between the pebbles as if searching for eggs. 

 Sometimes the males, in a body, left the nest and returned to it 

 repeatedly, moving in an excited manner as if seeking to entice 

 or drive a female into it. The nest was evidently an especially 

 favorable place for spawning. 



Eggs in various stages of development were obtained by 

 scooping up the gravel of any of the spawning grounds. 



Breeding Season. — The earliest observations were made on 

 May 17. At this time the bright colors of the males were well 

 developed and spawning was in progress, but how long it had 

 been going on is not known. The latest observations were made 

 on June 14 ; then the schools of fishes spawning on the shallows 



