MINNOW. 



373 



of the water which had the appearance of a flower. Observing 

 it attentively," he proceeds, " I found that it consisted of a 

 circular assemblage of Minnows : their heads all met in a 

 centre, and their tails diverging at equal distances, and being 

 elevated above their heads, gave them the appearance of a 

 flower half-blown. One was longer than the rest ; and as 

 often as a straggler came in sight, he quitted his place to 

 pursue him ; and having driven him away, he returned to it 

 again ; no other Minnow offering to take it in his absence. 

 This I saw him do several times. The object that had 

 attracted them all was a dead Minnow, which they seemed to 

 be devouring." 



The Minnow is very prolific, spawning in June : at that 

 time the head is covered with small tubercles : the young are 

 soon alive, and I have taken them three-quarters of an inch 

 long by the first week of August. 



A detailed account of many particulars interesting to the 

 naturalist relating to the habits of this species when spawn- 

 ing will be found in the fifth volume of the Magazine of 

 Natural History, page 681. 



A gravelly spot was chosen ; each female was attended by 

 two males, one on each side ; several ova, nevertheless, it 

 appears, escape foecundation, which the writer believes takes 

 place at the moment of exclusion : the ova that received the 

 influence of the male were obviously different, when exa- 

 mined under a microscope, from those that were unimpreg- 

 nated : the membrane forming the investing capsule was 

 more tough, and resisted injury longer, not breaking down so 

 easily when touched : some attempts at artificial impregnation 

 did not succeed. The spawning season with them is short, 

 seldom exceeding two or three days, and the eggs become 

 young fish in a very few days afterwards. The young Min- 

 nows are quite transparent, except the eyes, which are large : 



