480 



PARENTAL CARE AMONG FRESH-WATER FISHES. 



means confined to that river, but also occurs in the Gaboon and 

 Kongo. Caschive is the familiar name in use among the dAvellers 

 along the lower Nile, although it is likewise applied by them to other 

 species of the genus. In ancient times it was known to the Greeks 

 as the Oxyrliynclius^ and numerous representations of it and related 

 species have come down to us from classical times on the monuments 

 and bronzes which are the handiwork of the ancient Egyptians. 



Fig. G1. — Giiathoncmus UihiutKs. After fleoffroy Saint Ililaire. 



The species of so large and diversiform a family must naturally 

 show considerable differences in habits, and especially in the selection 

 of " stations " or grounds, and little is known about any. Several, 

 however, have been confined in aquaria at the Egyptian Zoological 

 Gardens and some data about them have been published in their 

 reports for 1903-1905. Some [Moi'myrus hannume) " spend the day 

 lying quietly on the bottom ; " others ( Gnathonemus isidori) " spend 

 most of their time in midwater, with all their fins and tails in per- 

 petual motion, but occasionally, for a short time, they will liQ on the 



Fig, 62, — HuiJcroiJisus behe. After GeofLxoy Saint Ililaire. 



bottom of the tank with fins motionless."' Still others {Gnathonemus 

 C"i/prinoicIe,s) '• usually keep moving about the bottom of the tank, 

 the pectoral and tail fins being almost constantly in motion, the 

 other fins being only occasionally used." The kannume, or abu boos, 

 and Gnathonemus have " a curious habit of swimming backward, 

 with tail leading," a habit which reminds one of the Gymnarchus. 

 " Like the Gnafhonefmis,'''' the kannume prefers " the lower part of 

 their tank; the pectoral and tail fins are moved most, but there seems 

 less of the constant waving of fins al)out this species than there is 

 with the other two " Mormvrids noticed here. 



