138 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



sea-water is not warmer than our own, and the 

 climate is much colder, this characteristically shore- 

 fish should spawn so early, anticipating the usual 

 time with us by some months. But if Nilsson is pre- 

 sumably wrong. Peach is decidedly so. By May the 

 time of hatching has passed, and at no time have I 

 ever seen the grains of spawn "attached to the 

 underside of a stone." The habit of the fish is differ- 

 ent, and has been so constantly observed by me over 

 a series of years, that no manner of doubt is jDossible 

 in connection with it. 



About the middle or end of February, in a stretch 

 of stony shore, during a very low tide, the domestic 

 habits of the Butterfish may already be observed 

 occasionally, while by the middle of March no one 

 need have any difficulty in obtaining suitable oppor- 

 tunities of watching its simple ways. The fish can 

 endure absence from the water for a considerable 

 period with equanimity, more especially if protected 

 from the wind and cold. In this way, by turning 

 over the larger stones, the Butterfish may be found 

 underneath, left by the retiring spring-tide; and 

 alongside, hut attached to nothing, will be found a ball 

 of spawn somewhat larger than a walnut. The ova are 

 of an opalescent appearance, remarkably distinct 

 from other shore-fish spawning in the spring ; and 

 they are carefully watched by both father and mother 

 up to the time they are incubated, with a very 

 moderate supi)ly of umbilical sac to start the world 

 for themselves. 



I should say the period of their spawning may be 

 said to extend from the middle of February to the 

 middle of April ; March being, properly speaking, the 

 principal month. 



This little knot of eggs matures rapidly, the parents 

 remaining by it closely, and apparently sickening 

 and becoming weaker during the period of incuba- 

 tion. It is probable they only obtain as food what 

 the sea brings thoni at this time, and that anxiety 

 is aided b^ starvation, and the weakness consequent 



