American FisJi cries ^uciety 159 



cared for them at the same time that he cared for the former 

 brood, rounding them up and Ivceping tliem near the nest and 

 finally l)rinti- out brood Xo. 7. He is a remarkably g-ood father, 

 there beinii' as much difference in this respect with the l)ass as 

 with fowls. 



The third and fourth lots fathered by this fish were abortive, 

 all eggs dying on the nest, he leaving them as soon as they had 

 turned white. I believe that this is the rule, although I would 

 want further chance for ol)s<'i'vation before announcing this as a 

 settled fact. Eleven beds of eggs were thus abortive at this sta- 

 tion this season, or at least appeared to be so. However, there 

 were three of them which hatched a small ]X'rcentage of fry and 

 in these cases the male remained on the nest until the fry raised 

 and moved away. 



If 1 nuiy l)e allowed a digression 1 would state that in ex- 

 amining this report I find a feature which nuiy interest the fish 

 culturists present, namely, that in water of a temperature rang- 

 ing from 71 to 75 F. the large-mouth bass egg hatches in forty- 

 eight hours and that the fry raise from the bed in from five to 

 ten days, according to teni])erature, eight days l)eing about the 

 average. Eggs were taken from the beds as soon as deposited 

 and at regular intervals. The embryo could be distinctly seen 

 under the microscope and 1)egan to move and change ]iosition in 

 the egg in twenty-four houi's. When first batched there was but 

 little color on the eye and no ])igment cells were discernable; red 

 corpuscles cleai' as were all tissues; heart action distinct; single 

 oil drop, lemon yellow in color. In twenty-four hours red cor- 

 puscles, amber cobu-. eye almost Ijlack and i)igment cells show^- 

 ing distinctly. Development from this on was very ra])id. 



