PROPAGATION 



67 



Since the male examines the eggs after each act of emis- 

 sion, he is in a position to know when the female has finished 

 laying, and it is then apparently that he drives her from 

 the nest. 



That a female may spawn in more than one nest is shown 

 by the following observations: — ''On the 

 south side of pond No. 5, about eight feet 

 from shore, I found a nest in which were 

 a male and a female, easily distinguish- 

 able as such at a distance of fifteen feet. 

 The male was lighter coloured and was 

 mottled; the female was darker, more 

 mottled and plainly distended with eggs. 

 There was the same swimming and floating 

 in a circle on the side on the part of the 

 female and the same biting on the part of 

 the male that has already been described. 

 This was interrupted by periods during 

 which the fish lay on the centre of the 

 nest where they could not be plainly seen. 

 At these times eggs were doubtless emit- 

 ted. Presently the male apparently saw 

 me and swam away with a start, as 

 though frightened. The female remained 

 waiting and appeared to become gradually 

 lighter coloured. After five minutes she 

 also started away, but she was met by the 

 male and, as she attempted to leave the nest, was headed 

 off first on one side and then on the other, until finally she was 

 brought again into the nest." 



"In a short time the male was again frightened away and 

 again the female remained in the nest. The male did not at 

 once return, but remained circling about a neighbouring nest 

 situated at a distance of about fifteen feet from the original 

 nest. At intervals he approached his own nest, coming 



Marsh Violets 



