COPE I A 35 



stones and rocks. Eelow are long reaches of more 

 smooth water, only occasional rocks or larger stones 

 appearing at intervals, and the banks with long grasses 

 and other vegetation. Just above a rift", or small 

 rapids, formed by some more crowded rocks or boulders 

 to form a sort of natural dam is a somewhat quiet 

 extent of water. This was the nesting ground and 

 extended about 200 yards or more, but as conditions 

 did not offer suitable stones or rocks we d'd not explore 

 further. Below the limits outlined we did not find any 

 nests, and only an occasional stone-cat. Altogether ten 

 nests were located, eight with eggs and two with newly 

 hatched young. These nests were simply very shallow 

 excavations below flat rocks, usually under those situ- 

 ated near the middle of the stream, at least well off 

 from the shore. The rocks in question were in most 

 every case flattened more or less, and in diameter would 

 range from one foot to nearly tw^.ce as much. By 

 simply turning over such a stone the fish and his eggs 

 or young would be discovered below. As a constant 

 current of clear water passes all about or over the eggs, 

 they are doubtless well freshened or cleanse^. Upon 

 first raising a stone the most conspicuous object was 

 the very pale-creamy to yellowish-white mass of eggs 

 or young, the latter evidently just hatched. It was 

 our plan in studying these fishes to poise the stone on 

 end, though care was required in raising it, as its eleva- 

 t : on must be gradual so the current of water could 

 carry off the sediment or other debris and at the same 

 time not disturb the fish or Irs charge too much. After 

 the water has cleared sufficiently the male fish may be 

 made out, usually lying placidly near lr*s charge, or, if 

 more timorous, in the shadow of the up-raised stone. 

 In no case was he savage, rather appearing either 

 passive or seclusive. A conspicuous character of the 

 o-uardian male is the conspicuously pale nasal and max- 

 illary barbels as well as the cVes of the fins, all appear- 

 ing more or less milk-white as the fish is seen in the 

 water. The male would scarcely allow himself to be 

 handled. In depth the cav'ty forming the nest proper 

 would scarcely exceed the dimensions of the mass of 

 eggs in some cases, to twice as large in others. The 

 depth of the cavity was not much over two inches, 

 and rarely three or more. Each eg-r measured about 

 three mm. in diameter, and by rough estimate about 

 200 were deposited in a nest. In most cases this egg- 

 mass would not exceed 55 mm. in length or diameter, 



