178 
Part III.—Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
(2) The guardianship is prolonged till the eggs hatch, probably till 
all are hatched, a period exceeding two months in duration. 
(3) The male not only protects the eggs from enemies, but is con- 
stantly engaged in cleansing and aérating them, both by the 
movement of his fins and by spouting currents of water upon 
them from his mouth. 
(4) He removes from them or their immediate neighbourhood foreign 
bodies which might injure them, and carries them to a distance. 
(5) The male fasts during at least the greater part of his long vigil, 
but begins to feed towards its close. 
(6) He drives away other males, and displays great animosity to 
them throughout the whole period. 
(7) This animosity is shown only when the eggs are present. 
(8) The period of incubation may extend over 40 days. 
(9) The hatching of the eggs is also prolonged and gradual, those at 
the surface of the mass hatching first, and those at the centre 
last ; aud this difference in the rate of development is probably 
correlated with a difference in the degree of aération or oxy- 
genation of the eggs, the better oxygenated hatching first. 
