82 Prof. M^Intosli on the Paternal 



Even in its larval condition the young Anarrliichas makes an 

 easy prey of the young Cyclopten. 



About the middle of May a male Cychpterus was found a 

 short distance from low-water mark in a broad runlet with his 

 head close to a mass of ova placed on the seaward edge of a 

 stone. The stream of sea-water was so shallow as to leave the 

 stone partly exposed, and was quite insufficient to float the fish, 

 which was 11^ inches in length. Accordingly, for a con- 

 siderable period twice daily the devoted male had to lie in 

 the runlet on his side, a portion of his body, including the 

 upper opercular region (in this position) being above water. 

 From the situation of the ova on the stone just described the 

 current of the runlet flowed into the mouth of the fish, which, 

 in the warm sun of June, must have been less comfortable 

 than under ordinary circumstances, a fact which is at variance 

 with the " accidental " theory formerly mentioned. The cool 

 and ever-changing stream, however, sufficed for aeration, the 

 movements of the hyoidean apparatus and the mandible, as 

 well as the direction of the stream, causing a current over the 

 upper as well as the lower branchiae.. Thus, although the 

 action of the branchial apparatus and the heart was occasion- 

 ally a little hurried in the warm sun, no serious effect ensued. 

 For five or six weeks this faithful male was found at low 

 water in this position, sometimes on one side and sometimes 

 on the other. In order to test it still further Mr. ScharfT 

 removed the fish a couple of yards from the eggs and placed 

 it on a stone. It wriggled actively into the water, at once 

 rushed to the ova, and assumed its former position with the 

 snout almost touching the eggs. The same ensued when it 

 was placed in the runlet at a somewhat greater distance. 

 The solicitude of the males for the ova which they have under 

 charge was further illustrated by the occurrence early in May 

 of a heavy sea, which swept masses of the ova from their 

 positions all along the rocks. As soon as the sea became 

 calm numerous anxious males, like '' pilgrims," were seen by 

 the laboratory attendant (who had been familiar with the 

 sites) seeking for their lost charges. Many of these masses 

 of eggs were found on the beach, so that the statement is 

 probable. 



As soon as the eggs were hatched the male was released, 

 and the young spread themselves over the rock-pools in the 

 neighbourhood in hundreds. It is unlikely, however, that 

 they are dispersed by specially adhering to the body of the 

 male though they quickly cling to anything and even to each 

 other. Their home appears for some time to be the littoral 

 region and especially the rock-pools, and they are occasionally 



