492 PARENTAL CARE AMONG FRESH-WATER FISHES. 



others prefer rivers, where they take up their residence in deserted 

 holes which they find in the banks. The pond species delight in 

 lying at the grassy margins, where the water is not deep enough to 

 cover them; and here they are able to respire atmospheric air direct." 

 So teaches Day (1883). " Some of the ophiocephali prefer dirty to 

 clean water, perhaps for purposes of concealment. When they have 

 stirred up all the sediment and exuded a quantity of mucus they ap- 

 pear to be delighted, their colors become more vivid, and they ascend 

 to their favorite resort, lying amongst the vegetation just beneath the 

 surface of the water. As soon as clean w^ater is given them they be- 

 come excited, as if they imagined the time had arrived when thej'^ 

 should change their abode." 



But such places and postures are at times exchanged for others. 

 They may be " frequently seen floating on the surface of the water 

 as if asleep." Such individuals " may be approached very closely." 

 In some places guns are used and the fish are shot, but " the game 

 usually sinks when killed and has to be dived for or otherAvise ob- 

 tained." 



The differences either in size or coloration l)etween the sexes are in- 

 considerable. Monogamy and parental solicitude are accredited to 

 them. Thej^ mostly, it is said, breed twice a year. The eggs are 

 quite large and vary in number in accordance with the size of the 

 female; in one Day estimated there w^ere about 4,700 eggs. Ovipo- 

 sition is provided for in a rude receptacle which is prepared by the 

 male. " The 0. striatum of Mysore is said to construct a nest with 

 its tail among the vegetation near the edges of the tanks, whilst it 

 bites off the ends of the weeds which grow in the water." Over this 

 the parent keeps guard, and his care is exercised not only for the 

 eggs, but for the young until they are developed and strong enough 

 to care for themselves. " Then they are driven away to seek their 

 OAvn subsistence," and those who are " too obstinate to leave," it is 

 believed, are " eaten by their progenitors." 



The (Jphiocephalids are highly esteemed for table use, " those 

 which inhabit rivers being better flaA'ored than the others which live 

 in sluggish or stagnant water." They form in many places a very 

 important part of the fish supply of the community. They are in 

 prime condition, or at least chiefly demanded, in a perfectly fresh 

 state. To supply such a demand, " in China they are often carried 

 alive in tubs or pails of water, and slices are cut for sale as Avanted, 

 the fish selling dear whilst it retains life, while what remains after 

 death is considered as of little value." The entrails are removed 

 before taking the fish around but the muscles remain long responsive 

 to irritation, and " when the irritability of the flesh is so nmch ex- 

 hausted that it no longer quivers under the knife, its \ahie is greatly 

 depreciated." This practice, Richardson thinks, '* however nmch it 



