Oneida Lake l-ishcs J«j5 



group ui ftiiialcs. Now and thc-n there is a j)artial mixing of the two group*, 

 with a coupling of males and females. 



Of the nesting-fishes found in the lake, the following guard their eggs after 

 they are laid: Howfin. Hlunt-noscd Minnow, and the bullheads: all of the 

 centrarchids, and the Tessellated and the Fantail Darters. The male serves as 

 guard. The only evidence found of the female guarding the eggs is that given by 

 ."^tranahan in the case of the Common liullhead ( Kendall, 'lo, p. 29). The 

 attending fish are usually ImjUI and drive away or attack other aquatic animals 

 nearing their nests. Sunfish and Iiass frequently strike a jK-rson's hand if it is 

 lowered in the water near the nest ; hut there are varying d^rees of boldness 

 among individuals of a siK-cies as well as among different species. Hankinson has 

 found Hluegills very shy and inclined to leave their nests at slight indications 

 of danger ; and he has noted this also to |je the case with some I^rge-mouthe«l 

 Hlack Bass. Un the other hand. Rock Bass, Common Sunfish and Long-eared 

 .Sunfish arc very bold and pugnacious when defending their eggs : but also indi- 

 viduals of these species differ markedly in amount t>f courage displayed. It is 

 somewhat unusual for fishes to care for their young. In the case of five sj)ecies 

 foun<l in < )neida I^ke parents are kntjwn to accompany their young after they 

 leave the ne.st. These are. Bowfin, Yellow Bullhead. Common Bullhead and the 

 two black Ixisses. Ordinarily i)arental duties cease with the spawning act or with 

 the hatching of the eggs. 



F<kkI does not ap[)ear to I)e taken to any e.xtent by fishes during their breeding 

 activities, yet considerable more infonnation is needed for definite conclusions on 

 this jxiint. It is probable that fishes generally take an unusual amount of food 

 just prior to the breeding season. This is the case with the Carp, according to 

 .Seeley CfV), p. <>" ) — who notes that it is like many other fishes in this respect. 

 — anil with the I-ake I-amprey (.Surface. '</>. i>. 2\\). l-ike l.ampreys on the 

 contrary cease feeding just l)eforc the breeding season, and their alimentan,- canals 

 atrophy. It is not likely that they resume feeding at the close of the bree<iing 

 season (Gage, '93. p. 439). I'earse ('18, p. j8i ) remarks that most fishes cease 

 or restrict their feeding during the bree<ling season. 



Little information can Ik- found on the extent to which fi.shes feeil while giianling 

 eggs or young. The Conmion Bullhead is known to draw its eggs or young into 

 its mouth an»l eject them again, but these are sometimes swallowed (Kendall, '03. 

 p. 408). .Smith and Harron ('04, j). 154) in making aquarium observations on 

 breeding Bullhea<Is fe<l them liver and lieef. They say: " .\\ no time did their 

 a])[K'titrs fail. There was ap|>arently no interference with deglutition, or doNure 

 ni the "i-sctphagns. such as has U-in observed in *<ime other cat-fishes." 



Colors and Structures accompanying Breeding. Sexual distinctions are 

 esjK'cially noticeable during the britding season in some of the s|H."cies of fish ft>und 

 ill Oneida I-ake. The male I-nke Ijtmprey then develops a dorsal ridge, whereas 

 at other times the sexes can In* identifie<l only ujwn dissection ((iage, '03. p. 4J7). 

 In the Bowfin the males average smaller than the females, have briglit green fins 

 and a conspicuous tail-s|>ot which is black. Ixirdcrcil with orange or yellow There 

 are .lis,, ,,il„T iiiin..r .-olnr dilTir.MU-.N ( See K'lM-li.ir.l 'o Ji. (.11 Mr I |1 \\\.u\ 



