A NATURALIST. 71 



showing a clear sandy bed. These spots, or cleared 

 spaces, we may regard as the nest of this beautiful 

 fish. There, balanced in the transparent wave, at 

 the distance of six or eight inches from the bottom, 

 the sun-fish is suspended in the glittering sunshine, 

 gently swaying its beautiful tail ami fins ; or, wheel- 

 ing around in the limits of its little circle, appears 

 to be engaged in keeping it clear of all incumbrances. 

 Here the mother deposits her eggs or spawn, and 

 never did hen guard her callow brood with more 

 eager vigilance, than the sun-fish the little circle 

 within which her promised offspring are deposited. 

 If another individual approach too closely to her 

 borders, with a fierce and angry air she darts against 

 it, and forces it to retreat. Should any small and 

 not too heavy object be dropped in the nest, it is 

 examined with jealous attention, and displaced if the 

 owner be not satisfied of its harmlessness. At the 

 approach of man she flies with great velocity into 

 deep water, as if willing to conceal that her pre- 

 sence was more than accidental where first seen. 

 She may, after a few minutes, be seen cautiously 

 venturing to return, which is at length done with 

 velocity; then she would take a hurried turn or two 

 around, and scud back again to the shady bowers 

 formed by the river grass, which grows up from the 

 bottom to within a few feet of the surface, and 

 attains to twelve, fifteen, or more feet in length. 

 Again she ventures forth from the depths ; and, if 

 no farther cause of fear presented, would gently sail 



