PAIRING, COURTSHIP, AND PARENTAL CARE 313 



to the hook in such a manner that one bunch of eggs Hes on 

 either side of the male as he swims about in the water. 



In the Pipe-fishes {Syngnathidae) the care of the eggs and fry 

 is always undertaken by the male fish, who carries them about 

 until hatched, either "glued" to a simple groove lined with 

 soft skin in the lower surface of the abdomen, or in a special 

 pouch closed by flaps of skin and situated on the under side of 

 the trunk or tail (Fig. 113d). In the Florida Pipe-fish {Siphos- 

 toma) , in which the wdiole process has been accurately observed, 

 the reproductive act is preceded by an elaborate courtship, the 



Fig. 113. 

 Breeding habits of Florida Pipe-fish {Siphostonia floridae) . 



a. Position of fishes during transfer of eggs ; b. Attitude assumed by male while 



moving eggs backward in the pouch ; c. Position of male during period of rest 



following several transfers, X about 5. (After Gudger) ; d. Portion of pouch 



opened to show eggs. 



two fishes swimming round in nearly vertical positions, but 

 wdth the head and shoulder region bent forward. They then 

 swim slowly past one another, their bodies come into contact, 

 and the male demonstrates his aflfection by contortions of the 

 body, caressing his mate with his snout. Just before the actual 

 transfer the male becomes violently excited, wriggles his body 

 about in corkscrew fashion, and rubs the belly of the female 

 with his snout. This demonstration is repeated several times, 

 the fishes becoming more and more excited, until finally the 

 nuptial embrace (Fig. 113a) occurs, after which the fishes 

 separate, to commence the process again after an interval of 



