SECOND WEEK] 



February 



49 



assiduously brooding, and driving away minnows and 

 larger fishes, even its own species, which would disturb 

 its ova, pursuing them a few feet, and circling round 

 swiftly to its nest again; the minnows, like young sharks, 

 instantly entering the empty nests, meanwhile, and swal- 

 lowing the spawn, which is attached to the weeds and to 



PICKEREL. 



the bottom, on the sunny side. The spawn is exposed to 

 so many dangers that a very small proportion can ever 

 become fishes, for beside being the constant prey of birds 

 and fishes, a great many nests are made so near the shore, 

 in shallow water, that they are left dry in a few days, as 

 the river goes down. These and the lampreys are the 



