270 PERCOIDES, 



any degree of affection manifested by the female 

 fish for her young. One is warranted in suppos- 

 ing that the hassar, of which Dr Hancock gives a 

 glowing account in the 14th number of the Zoo- 

 logical Journal, belongs to an order vastly more 

 civilized than those on this side of the Atlantic. "It 

 is asserted by naturalists that no fishes are known 

 to take any care of their offspring ; both the species 

 of hassar, mentioned below, however, make a 

 regular nest, in which they lay their eggs in a flat- 

 tened cluster, and cover them over most carefully. 

 Their care does not end here. They remain by 

 the side of the nest till the spawn is hatched, with 

 as much solicitude as a hen guards her eggs ; 

 both the male and female hassar (a species of 

 Doras,) for they are monogamous, steadily watch- 

 ing the spawn, and courageously attacking the as- 

 sailant. Hence the negroes frequently take them 

 by putting their hands into the water close to the 

 nest ; on agitating which the male hassar springs 

 furiously at them, and is thus captured. The 

 round-head forms its nest of grass, the flat-head 

 of leaves. Both at certain seasons burrow in the 

 bank. They lay their eggs only in wet weather. 

 " I have been surprised to observe the sudden 

 appearance of numerous nests in a morning af- 

 ter rain occurs, the spot being indicated by a 

 bunch of froth, which appears on the surface of 



