426 PAKENTAL CAEE AMONG FEESH-WATEE FISHES. 



schal, which were commonly used as bait," they eat " a great many 

 other teleosts, as is evidenced by the more or less undigested remains 

 in the stomachal pouch of such forms " as killie fishes, eels, and boltis. 

 They apparently catch such fishes alive, and they are most attracted 

 bj'' " live bait ; ■"' the food is always swallowed whole. ''Although 

 catfish are usually taken head first, some fish were found in the stom- 

 achal pouch in a reverse position; their undigested remains are 

 probably ejected through the mouth. The pouch is achnirabl}' adapted 

 for resisting the very dangerous and strong spines possessed by the 

 catfishes." 



The spawning season commences nearly with the rainy season or 

 the inundation of the Nile and may last several months, or from June 

 to September. As the season for reproduction approaches, the habit- 

 ual lethargy of the fishes diminishes, their movements become more 

 sprightly, and males and females meet. The eggs become developed, 

 and about as large as grains of millet; they are of a bright green 

 color. The males also become more differentiated by the develop- 

 ment of the anal fin. This is not only larger than in the female, but 

 siDecially modified in form. 



Another noteworth}^ circumstance is that " the males are smaller 

 than the females and, although they are much less numerous, are 

 generally taken in company with one or more females." Harrington 

 obtained " only twelve males to fifty-eight females." 



On account of the great interest connected with the relationship 

 of the Bichirs, a number of exj:)editions have been sent or led to Af- 

 rica for the purpose of studying the life history and especially the 

 ovij)osition and development of the species. The first in the field 

 were Americans — parties from Columbia University. In the spring 

 of 1898 Dr. N. R. Harrington, then a " fellow in zoology " of the 

 university, with Dr. Reid Hunt, went up the Nile in search of the 

 Polypterids and remained till September 10. He found many fishes 

 with eggs and spawn, but not the combination of the ripe products. 

 Later ]\Ir. J. S. Budgett undertook to visit equatorial Africa for the 

 purpose of investigating the species, and in 1901 he published some 

 important facts relative to the habits of some of the species. After 

 several ineifectual attempts he succeeded in confining some fishes in 

 four inclosures in a swamp off the Gambia River. He fed them with 

 minced meat, and as soon as he put food into the water at one end of 

 the inclosure some of the fishes " came hurrying through the grass 

 from all parts and greedily devoured it, without the least appearance 

 of shjmess." He was unable, however, to obtain eggs from them or 

 to effectually fertilize those from other individuals. He found that 

 " the main difficulties in obtaining the eggs seem to lie in the fact 

 that Polyptervs probably makes no nest, and certainly lays but few 

 eggs at a time, these being scattered, probably broadcast, throughout 



