184 AN INTERESTING SPECTACLE. 



those situated higher up in the stomach of the 

 fish. They are softer also, and their outward fila- 



At the end of 113 days we find the fish visibly larger — the 

 head better shaped, but large in comparison with other 

 parts of the fish — the conical bag much the same in ap- 

 pearance as before, and the fish more lively, and turning 

 over more frequently in the shell. At 123 days, the fish are 

 stiU larger, and, from their restlessness and frequent turn- 

 ings, we now see that their cells have become too small for 

 them, and that they are unwilling to be kept much longer 

 in confinement. They must, however, remain a little 

 longer ; for, at the lapse of 133 days, we find the shells of 

 the eggs still unbroken, and the fish in a very restless state, 

 so that, by all appearance, they are not to endure their im- 

 prisonment much longer — the conical bag being now red 

 towards the belly, but of a pale colour on the outside — 

 the fish restless, and turning frequently and quickly from 

 one side of the shell to the other, and often appearing to 

 break out of confinement, — the shell being now extremely 

 distended and thin. The time has now arrived when an 

 immediate change from bondage to liberty is eagerly looked 

 for, and the observer feels anxious to continue looking on. 

 The myriads of young fish are continually moving from one 

 side to the other, and the whole spawning-bed is in a state 

 of commotion. Such is their state now, that night only 

 can force the observer to change his place, and, from an 

 anxiety to see the actual movements of development, he 

 leaves the spawning-bed with deep regret. With quick and 

 anxious steps he returns next morning by the dawn, fearing 

 that he has lost the long-looked-for and interesting sight 

 that he expected to see on the previous evening. He 

 watches all that day with the most intense anxiety, still 

 expecting the moment of the grand exhibition, but is yet 



