378 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



be dangerous. The nests are usually occupied for a space 

 of four weeks, when the parent fishes relinquish their 

 cares, and leave the young "sunnies," now more like 

 flakes of jelly than bony fishes, to shift for themselves. 



One curious feature of the habits of sunfish, while 

 nesting, is worthy a moment's notice. I have mentioned 

 that often many nests are in a row and near each other. 

 The occupants of the several nests do not molest each 

 other, and never intrude beyond the limits of their own 

 " homes." They have but one direction open to them, 

 and this is to the deep water directly in front. Into this, 

 when they leave the nest, the sunfish dart with great ra- 

 pidity. Often this constant going and coming wears a 

 path along the mud and through the weeds, which can be 

 readily traced for some distance. The return to the nest 

 is as rapid and direct as the exit. Each fish, wherever it 

 may go, has some point which is recognized as the termi- 

 nus of the lane leading to the nest, and, having found this, 

 it speeds up the narrow pathway with incredible velocity, 

 and stops as suddenly just at or in the nest. Then the 

 other, as quickly and in the same manner, departs, leav- 

 ing the nest in charge of its mate. 



Here we have evidence of the " sense of direction," 

 which is very remarkable. There is usually a dense 

 growth of pond-weed or splatter-dock between the nest 

 and the channel or deepest water of the creek or pond. 

 How, when the parent fish is in this clear, deep water, it 

 can tell the exact position of its nest, and swim directly 

 to it, is a mystery ; yet this they are unquestionably able 

 to do. However well defined the pathway or lane lead- 

 ing from the nest may be, it necessarily " fades out," as it 

 were, as the deeper water is n eared ; but it would seem 

 as though there were some landmark that the fish recog- 

 nized. If this is not the case, and it is difficult to believe, 



