BRIEF NOTES ON FISHES. 393 



the head, the position varying from nearly horizontal to 

 almost or quite perpendicular. 



Pursuing the investigation somewhat further, I found 

 that when these minnows had gone into winter-quarters 

 in water from three to five feet deep, the hibernating 

 slumber was not as profound ; and when they were placed 

 in clear water, at a temperature of 40 Fahr., they almost 

 immediately swam about, slowly at first, but with steadily 

 increasing activity, and in from three to five minutes 

 they were in full possession of all their locomotive pow- 

 ers, and assumed the statue-like positions common to 

 them in summer, when for many minutes together they 

 will remain immovable until an opportunity is offered to 

 capture an insect or some minute crustacean. It should 

 be here mentioned that the water in the ditches from 

 which I gathered my first specimens varied from nine to 

 fifteen inches in depth, and was coated with ice one inch 

 thick. 



During February, the weather being mild and spring- 

 like frogs singing at midday I watched for the ap- 

 pearance of these fish, and saw them first on Sunday, the 

 15th. A week later, Monday, the 23d, there were but 

 few specimens in the muddy ditches, but a vast number 

 of females, heavy with masses of ova, were found in the 

 swift, clear waters of the hill-side brooks. 



On the 25th there was a violent snow-storm, with 

 cold northeast winds, but this did not deter the onward 

 movement of the minnows. Of the specimens taken 

 from the rivulets at this time, none were males, and it 

 seems probable, although I could not ascertain the truth, 

 that the male fish follow the females, and, seeking out 

 the deposited ova, fertilize them; or the females wait 

 until the arrival of the males before depositing their 

 eggs. While as yet this is largely conjecture on my part, 



