50 Fish Life [SECOND WEEK 



only fishes' nests that I have observed, though the ova of 

 some species may be seen floating on the surface. The 

 sunfish are so careful of their charge that you may stand 

 close by in the water and examine them at your leisure. 

 I have thus stood over them half an hour at a time, and 

 stroked them familiarly without frightening them, suffering 

 them to nibble my fingers harmlessly, and seen them erect 

 their dorsal fins in anger when my hand approached their 

 ova, and have even taken them gently out of the water 

 with my hand; though this cannot be accomplished by 

 a sudden movement, however dexterous, for instant warn- 

 ing is conveyed to them through their denser element, 

 but only by letting the fingers gradually close about them 

 as they are poised over the palm, and with the utmost 

 gentleness raising them slowly to the surface. Though 

 stationary, they kept up a constant sculling or waving 

 motion with their fins, which is exceedingly graceful, and 

 expressive of their humble happiness; for unlike ours, the 

 element in which they live is a stream which must be 

 constantly resisted. From time to time they nibble the 

 weeds at the bottom or overhanging their nests, or dart 

 after a fly or worm. The dorsal fin, besides answering 

 the purpose of a keel, with the anal, serves to keep the 

 fish upright, for in shallow water, where this is not covered, 

 they fall on their sides. As you stand thus stooping over 

 the sunfish in its nest, the edges of the dorsal and caudal 

 fins have a singular dusty golden reflection, and its eyes, 

 which stand out from the head, are transparent and colour- 

 less. Seen in its native element, it is a very beautiful 

 and compact fish, perfect in all its parts, and looks like 



