PARENTAL CARE AMONG FRESH-WATER FISHES. 



445 



Two of these were in pieces of stovepipe, the third in an old pail. The nests 

 were in clear water, near a hold, rocky shore, and at a depth of four or live feet ; 

 all contained embryos and each was ^ii;uarded by a parent fish — which one I did 

 not ascertain. On the following day. In searching for other nests, I raised a 

 small piece of tin pii)e and was surprised to find a pair within. Though the 

 raising of the pipe they became so wedged that it was impossible for either to get 

 free. They had not yet begun spawning, although the eggs were so ripe that 

 IJiey were easily e.xtruded by slight pressure. [Artificial fertilization was tried 

 Itut was only partially successful.] A small percentage of the eggs segmented, 

 most of which died Iiefore the embryos apjtoared. 



Fig. 29.— Catfish (A. neftu/o.'iM.',) on nest (Ideal). 



Two 3^ears later Eyclesheimer renoAvod his observations when 

 camped near Mud Lake, Michigan, which abounded in hu-ge bidl- 

 heads, and thus tells of his experience : 



An extended search was made on June 9. 10, and 11, and we had almost given 

 up the search when one of my companions found a nest in a small bay with 

 shallow sandy shoals. Soon a dozen or more were found along this sandy shoal 

 and in a depth of water not exceeding three or four inches. They were usually 

 concealed beneath logs, stumps, or boards, which lay against the bank. One 

 would often observe a slight depression, and ui)on turning the sheltering ob.iect 

 would find the pair engaged in spawning or watching over the freshly laid eggs. 



