BRAOHYURI. 181 



Perhaps, from this reason, it scarcely ever proves as tame as the rest. 

 But I have often remarked that those specimens seldom exposed to view 

 are wilder than those never in concealment. 



This is one of the most prolific of the tribe. It bipeds at various 

 seasons of the year. In April and May, in particular, the female is laden 

 with roe, which I have also seen in profusion late in November. 



No distinction, whereof I am aware, either in form or colour, is pe- 

 culiar to either sex, unless the remarkable dimensions of the females' 

 swelling apron. So wise a provision of nature for protection of the young 

 is manifested by the wonderful care of Omnipotence. The aj)ron is some- 

 times elevated so much by this preparation for preservation of the race, 

 as to form a right angle with the under surftxce. 



These are most beautiful and wonderful arrangements, whether from 

 the symmetry, colour, or position of such enormous quantities of roe as 

 are brought to maturity. Now the animal appears somewhat distorted, 

 until the restoration of its form ensues by dispersion of the spawn. — 

 Plate XLII. fig. 2, back ; fig. 3, front. 



The profusion of roe in one, as well as its progressive increase, were 

 extraordinary, insomuch that, although the apron was elevated perpendi- 

 cularly, and I am figuring the specimen reversed, I say that, although rising 

 to form a right angle with the front on the 8th of November, the mass still 

 continued enlarging, with the apron turned back, nearly on a level with 

 the upper surface. It did not lose its paleness, hovrever ; and being in- 

 vested by a thin mouldy film, the specimen died on the 27th. 



This female was of a very dull colour, tending at last to brownish- 

 green, of which I once saw another instance in April. — Plate XLVI. 

 fig. 1. 



A considerable time before maturity the spawn appears a fine yellow 

 or orange conglomerated mass of spherical ova ; but the colour fades with 

 its advances, and the component parts of the mass relax, when they re- 

 semble luxuriant clusters of fruit ; portions are represented in different 

 stages. — Plate XLII. figs. 4, 5. A cluster of 117 mature capsules, de- 

 lineated on May 21st, is seen in fig. 6. Thousands of young were dis- 

 charged in three days from the ample ovarium affording this beautiful 



