COPEIA 33 



out of the bottom by both sexes. It is usually situated 

 in a gravel-bank or a sand-bank. The labor of excava- 

 tion is performed by both fishes carrying out pebbles 

 in their mouths or brushing about with their fins. In 

 dimensions the nest may reach a diameter from th'rty 

 inches to a yard and may vary in depth from twelve to 

 fifteen inches, or even eighteen. When spawning the 

 fish may remain quiet in the bottom, close together and 

 parallel. The eggs appear to be forced out of the 

 female by a vibrating of her body as she presses against 

 the male, who remains close alongside showing the 

 same movement. The milt and eggs are expressed at 

 the same time, or at intervals until the spawning is 

 completed. The clusters of eggs are all deposited in a 

 day or so, and fall in a heap in the bottom of the nest. 

 They may be covered for a greater or lesser extent 

 with the surrounding gravel by both parents, and some- 

 times to a depth of five or six inches. In color the eggs 

 are of the usual yellowish-white tint, and number about 

 1400 to 1500. The care of the eggs is shared mostly 

 by the male, though both sexes may even act as guard- 

 ians, or the female alone may even guard the nest. At 

 least in the aquarium on one occasion such occurred, 

 and she even fought and drove her companion away. 

 The eggs are very adhes've and usually remain in 

 compact masses until hatched, which occurs in two or 

 three days. The young are brooded for some time by 

 the male, in similar fashion to those of other species 

 in the genus. 



The spawning habits of the yellow cat (Ameiurus 

 natalis) are similar to those of the common catfish. 

 The nest is a hollow or small excavation usually but 

 little larger than the fish, or it may be situated in a 

 hole or even a sort of a burrow. If a burrow is used 

 it may extend for an inclined depth of two feet. It is 

 excavated as a nest by the labor of both sexes. The 

 spawn'ng season is of about two weeks extent or from 

 May 15 to June 1. Mr. R. E. Van Deusen, who has 

 found the burrow-like nests in western New York, 

 noticed that often small roots from the surrounding 

 vegetation would be left in the burrow, and frequently 

 served as an anchorage for the yellowish-white adhe- 

 sive eggs. The latter are deposited usually to the 

 extent of about 300 to 700 in a nest. The male guards 

 and broods the young, and when the latter leave the 

 nest cares for h's charge for some time. 



