FISHES NESTS. JS 



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

 which they afterwards cover with the roots of algae 

 and zostera. Here the males remain and await 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 preserving and defending them. This is probably 

 the (pvxig, jjiycis of the ancients, the only fish within 

 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 Silurida' 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, Orphronemus oJfax, belonging to the lOtk 

 family of osseous fislies, resting on the testimony of 



