92 BRITISH SFORTING FISHES. 



impossible to detect them. They were for a time 

 confined to the meshes of the nest and its near 

 neighbourhood, but by degrees were allowed 

 greater space, and the parent fish hollowed out 

 a sort of small basin for them, in which they dis- 

 ported themselves until they were strong enough 

 to take a wider range. In consequence of there 

 being no other fish in the vessel, we did not see 

 the battles and stratagems which are carried oa 

 between companion and rival fishes when engaged 

 in similar parental duties. The encounters upon 

 such occasions are said to be fearful and pro- 

 longed, and it is not without reason the young 

 nestlings are so carefully guarded, as acts of 

 cannibalism are not infrequent." 



