36 COPEIA 



and as the crevice forming the bottom of the nest was 

 variable, so too the complement of eggs would vary 

 from spherical to ellipsoid in form. The egg-mass is 

 very compact, and each egg is quite adherent to its 

 fellow. In no case could we actually find the male 

 directly on or about the eggs, but do not doubt that he 

 may assume such positions. In some nests the young 

 had just hatched and they were all crowded together, 

 a constantly moving compact mass. The males attend- 

 ing such nests were not more bold than those with eggs. 



The most interesting and striking feature of the 

 nesting of this species is that unlike any of our other 

 catfishes it always appears to lay its eggs below flatten- 

 ed stones, situations in which it dwells continuously. 

 Though unable to give any details as to the parental 

 care, it would seem quite likely that the male may brood 

 the young for at least some time. Associated in the 

 spawning grounds were numerous small fishes, as silver 

 fins (Notropis whipplii analostomus ) , red fins (N. 

 cornutus), black-nosed dace (Rhinichthys atronasus), 

 suckers (Catostomus commersonnii) , killfish (Fundulus 

 diaphanus), sunfish (Lepomis auritus) and darters 

 (Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi). As the eggs were fairly 

 well protected in their rocky retreats, besides guarded 

 by the vigilant male, it is hardly likely that any great 

 depredations were committed by the smaller fishes in 

 the vicinity. Once, when we disturbed a nest of young, 

 several carried helplessly on by the current were seen 

 devoured by a minnow. The newly hatched young are 

 the same pale creamy-white color as the eggs, at least 

 in their early stages, and may not assume the dark 

 coloration of the very young of the common bullhead. 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF FISH IN MEDIAEVAL 

 MANUSCRIPTS AND EARLY PRINTED BOOKS. 

 Dr. Charles R. Eastman. (No abstract.) 



..* 



For sale by J. T. Nichols, American Museum of Natural History 

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