SPAWNING PROCESS. 25 



"lek"* is carried on amongst clusters of rushes (Scirpus, 

 Linn.), and river horse-tail (Equisetum fluviatile, Linn.) 



The spawning process with the perch, is said to be some- 

 what peculiar. Unlike the ova of other fish, which, simply 

 enveloped in a mass of gelatine, readily separate as soon 

 as deposited by the female, those of the perch are en- 

 closed in a net-like membrane that keeps them attached 

 together. 



The fish, to get rid of the ova (so goes the story), rubs her 

 belly against a sharp stone, or a stick, until the membrane in 

 question becomes attached to it, when, wriggling her body, 

 she makes a quick forward movement, and thus, piece by 

 piece, draws out the string of eggs, in appearance not unlike 

 that of the toad, and which is often from five to six feet in 

 length. Some, indeed, go so far as to aver, that to facilitate 

 this operation, she introduces the point of a reed into the vent, 

 to which the gelatine becomes fastened, and as a consequence 

 when she moves forward, the string follows in her wake. 



The perch is very prolific. According to Bloch, two 

 hundred and eighty-one thousand eggs have been found in 

 an individual of only half-a-pound in weight ; but by some 

 this is considered an exaggeration. The fish itself, never- 

 theless, is not proportionately numerous. Several reasons 

 are assigned for this. First, that there are many more males 

 than females, which is said to be a well-ascertained fact. 

 Secondly, that owing to the roe adhering together, it is 

 more easily consumed by fish of prey and water-fowl ; and 



* This word (meaning literally sport or play) is applied as well to the 

 particular spot where birds or fishes congregate for the purpose of pairing 

 or spawning, as to the act itself of their so congregating for that special 

 purpose. 



