66 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



this time. Then a fisherman reported having seen one rise to the 

 surface. Later, others were seen. On the afternoon of the 18th, 

 a few were found on the points, depositing the spawn. The tempera- 

 ture at the time was 68° — 69° on the shoals, while out in the lake 

 the mercury stood at 62° — 63°. The 'points' on which the eggs 

 were laid were of naked granite, which had been broken by the frost 

 and heat into angular blocks of three to eight inches in diameter. 

 The blocks were tumbled upon each other like loose heaps of brick- 

 bats, and upon and between them the eggs were dropped. The points 

 are the extremities of small capes that make out into the lake. The 

 eggs were laid in water varying in depth from two to fourteen inches. 

 At the time of approaching the shoals, the fish might be seen to rise 

 quite often to the surface to take air. This they did by thrusting the 

 bill out of the water as far as the corners of the mouth, which was 

 then opened widely and closed with a snap. After taking the air, 

 they seemed more able to remain at the surface. Out in the lake 

 they are very timid, but once buried upon the shoals they become 

 quite reckless as to what is going on about them. A few moments 

 after being driven off, one or more of the males would return as if 

 scouting. If frightened, he would retire for some time ; then another 

 scout would appear. If all promised well, the females, with the at- 

 tendant males, would come back. Each female was accompanied by 

 from one to four males. Most often a male rested against each side, 

 with their bills reaching up toward the back of her head. Closely 

 crowded together, the little party would pass back and forth over the 

 rocky bed they had selected, sometimes passing the same spot half a 

 dozen times without dropping an egg, then suddenly would indulge in 

 an orgasm ; and, lashing and plashing the water in all directions with 

 their convulsive movements, would scatter at the same instant the 

 eggs and the sperm. This ended, another season of moving slowly 

 back and forth was observed, to be in turn followed by another of 

 excitement. The eggs were excessively sticky. To whatever they 

 happened to touch they stuck, and so tenaciously that it was next to 

 impossible to release them without tearing away a portion of their 

 envelopes. It is doubtful whether the eggs would hatch if removed. 

 As far as could be seen at the time, upon or under the rocks to which 

 the eggs were fastened, there was an utter absence of any thing that 

 might serve as food for the young fishes. 



"Other fishes, bull heads, &c, are said to follow the bill fish to eat 

 the spawn. It may be so. It was not verified. Certainly the points 

 under observation were unmolested. During the afternoon of the 



