The Waking of the Fishes 



spring. The rock bass and the two varieties 

 of black bass are well-known examples. 

 These fishes scoop out a hole with their fins 

 in the bottom of the stream, and then bring 

 pebbles or small stones to the bowl-like cav 

 ity, to which the female attaches her spawn, 

 mounting guard over the nest until the eggs 

 hatch, which is generally within ten days. 

 Any offending object dropped upon or near 

 the nest is promptly and indignantly re 

 moved. 



The sunfish, or "pumpkin seed," also 

 scoops out a nest in the bottom of the 

 stream, but does not ballast it with peb 

 bles. Her nest is large and deep, however, 

 and built in comparatively still water, where 

 the unattached eggs are not likely to be car 

 ried away by the current. The female not 

 only watches over the eggs till they are 

 hatched, but drives away every intruder, 

 even of her own species, that ventures to 

 approach the spot. 



The stickleback's nest, however, is the 

 most remarkable of all fish nests, most like 

 a bird's nest, being built of grass and weeds, 

 fastened together with slime from the fish's 

 own body. There is a hole entirely through 



37 



