374 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



former position, the one being apparently a quiet specta- 

 tor of the graceful submarine gymnastics of the other. 

 This continued from Sunday until Wednesday, when both 

 fish disappeared, and were found coon after building a 

 nest some iifty yards distant. 



Like all nest-building fishes, the river sunfish is very 

 pugnacious while it has a nest under its care, and will 

 defend it against every intruder. Not always is it suc- 

 cessful in this, I am sorry to say, but it is never cowardly, 

 even when turtles and snakes invade its retreat. Indeed, 

 I have seen a red-bellied turtle seize the sunfish, when 

 too bold in its attack, and tear it nearly to pieces. The 

 worst enemy, however, of the sunfish at such a time is 

 one of the little darters, already mentioned, which rushes in 

 among the eggs without being noticed, and then is off 

 and half-buried in the sand before the harassed sunfish 

 can arrest him. 



When the young fish are about one third of an inch 

 in length and about as broad as they are long they are 

 left to shift for themselves, and they are quite equal to 

 the demands made upon them. What they find to eat, I 

 can not say ; but their quick movements, as they dart rest- 

 lessly about, clearly show that they find something, and 

 know how to secure it. The young fish of each season 

 remain together for a year or more, and only become 

 widely separated as their steady growth demands more 

 extended feeding-grounds. This requires each brood 

 finally to scatter ; but if sufficient food were at hand, 

 these fish would probably remain in close companies, as 

 they appear to be a very social fish. Certainly, mated 

 fishes possess a strong mutual affection, and many instances 

 have occurred under my own notice that indicated this 

 most unquestionably. I have further proved it by cruel 

 experiments, which will be mentioned hereafter. 



