420 EAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



until we, who are watching from the bank, despite the 

 strong protest of the ants, see a clearing over two feet in 

 diameter. Here the first eggs are deposited, and the 

 male, who has retired, soon appears from up-stream, bear- 

 ing in its mouth a pebble, that is placed among the eggs 

 that form a layer in the center of the clearing. Now 

 they both swim away, soon returning, each bearing a peb- 

 ble in its mouth that is dropped upon the eggs. Slowly 

 the work goes on, until a layer of clean pebbles apparent- 

 ly covers the eggs ; now the female deposits a second 

 layer of eggs, and more pebbles are brought, the little 

 workers scouring the neighborhood for them, piling up 

 stones and eggs alternately until the heap attains a height 

 of eight inches or more, formed in various shapes, some- 

 times pyramidal or dome-shaped monuments of the 

 patience of these finny house-keepers. Who would sus- 

 pect their purpose? Even the gleaners of the golden 

 fields, in whose brooks our little friends are found, have 

 not discovered their secret, and think the curious piles 

 washings of the brook itself." 



The other dace, the long-nosed species, is still more 

 dependent upon clear running water, and dies immediate- 

 ly if placed in still waters, as in an aquarium. Even 

 water kept cold with ice does not suit them. It must be 

 both cool and rapidly flowing. 



There is but one brook within the range of my ram- 

 bles where the long-nosed dace is found, and here they 

 occur but sparingly. I have usually found them beneath 

 flat stones, or hidden by the overhanging banks of the 

 brook. The moment they are surprised, away they dart, 

 and seek shelter in some such place as I have mentioned. 

 For this reason they are difficult to capture, and being 

 but seldom seen, unless carefully looked for, they are 

 readily overlooked by the casual observer. 



