FISHES NESTS. 7^ 



struct a nest in some spot abounding with sea- weed, 

 which they afterwards cover Avith the roots of algai 

 and zostera. Here the males remain and aw^ait the 

 females, who successively arrive to deposit their 

 eggs; these, after fecundation, are taken care of by 

 the males, who exhibit much diligence and courage 

 in preser%ang and defending them. This is probably 

 the ^'jx/g, phi/cis of the ancients, the only fish w'ithin 

 their knowledge which was in the habit of con- 

 structing a nest. 



Another striking instance of this nest-building is 

 supplied by Dr. Hancock, regarding two species of 

 the Slluridce family, the third of Cuvier's Abodmen- 

 ales, as occurring in the waters of Demerara. The 

 native name of these fish is Hassar; and both spe- 

 cies, it is remarked, form a regular nest, in which 

 they lay their eggs, in a flattened cluster, and cover 

 them over most carefully. The one species con- 

 structs its nest of grass, the other of leaves; both, 

 at certain seasons, burrow in the banks and lay their 

 eggs, especially in wet weather. " I have been 

 surprised," says Dr. Hancock, " to observe the sud- 

 den appearance of numerous nests in a morning after 

 rain occurs, the spot being indicated by a mass of 

 froth which appears on the surface of the water 

 over the nest; under this are the eggs placed on a 

 bunch of fallen leaves, or of grass, which they con- 

 trive to cut and collect together." One other in- 

 stance we adduce, namely, that of the well-known 

 Goramy, Otyhronemus olfax^ belonging to the 10th 

 family of osseous fishes, resting on the testimony of 



