46 



Thirty-First Annual Meeting 



sweeping until the gravel over a eircular spot of some 2 feet in 

 dianieter is perfectly clean. The sand is swept toward the edge 

 of the nest aild there forms a rim a few inches high, leaving the 

 center of the nest concave like a saucer. The nest is usuall}' 

 located near a log or large rock so as to l)e shielded from one side 

 If the Ijank is sheer and the water deep enougli, the nest may be 



J 



HATCHING BED. 



built directly against the l)ank it jiossilde. It is always so placed 

 that the fish can reach dee}) water quickly at any time. 



During nest building no females are in sight — but when the 

 nest is done — and this takes from four to forty-eight hours — the 

 male goes out into deej) water and at once ri'turns with a female. 

 Then for a time — it may be for several hours — the male exerts 

 himself to get the female into the nest and to ])ring her into that 

 state of excitement in which she will lay lier eggs. If she lies 

 quiet he turns on his side and ])asses beneatli her in such a way 

 as to stroke her Ix'lly in passing. If she delays too long he urges 



