PROPAGATION 57 



eight or ten feet in depth; this gives him complete command 

 of the situation, and enables him to drive off his enemies 

 with ease. 



When first seen the male fish roots abovtt in the sand 

 and clears away, with his fins and tail, a spot about two or 

 three feet in diameter, so that the bottom is either cf bare 

 rock or strewn with coarse stone and gravel. If the r.est 

 be made on rock he sweeps off the dirt and slime until the 

 surface of the bed is perfectly rough and clean. 



Then, suddenly, some fine sunny morning, when the 

 temperature of the air is between 70° and 80° F., and that 

 of the water about 65° F., he appears with his mate, and, 

 after circling about in the nest for a few minutes, the female 

 deposits her ova, which are immediately covered bv the 

 milt of the male fish, and the female then either abandons 

 the nest of her own accord, or is driven from it by the male, 

 who then proceeds to "guard the nest." 



While spawning the female undergoes a remarkable 

 change in colour, and becomes mottled in the same manner 

 as when affected by a sudden change of light or heat. 



Guarding the Nest. 



This process is one of the most interesting and instruc- 

 tive in Nature, and is not peculiar to the small-mouthed 

 bass, being carried on by the large-mouthed bass, the rock 

 bass, and some species of sunfish ; perhaps also by the mas- 

 kinonge. 



The male fish remains over the bed and guards it until 

 the ova are hatched out, and the young bass are ready to 

 leave the nest. 



He keeps moving about over the nest, or remains with 

 his head at the centre while his tail sweeps the water in a 

 circle ; or occasionally he rushes out to chase away some 

 wandering fish, either of his own or of other species, return- 

 ing immediately to his station. 



5 



