86 



Aquatic iLiU 



"driving." To the uninitiated one fish 

 seems to be chasing and annoying the 

 other. The pursuer is the male, to be 

 further distinguished, on close examina- 

 tion, by the presence of more or less 

 prominent excrescences (white spots) 

 on the gill-covers and along the first rays 

 of the pectoral fins. The object of his 

 attentions, especially when viewed from 

 above, will appear broader across the 

 back at the rear, one side perhaps more 

 distended than the other, making the fish 



orgasm by removing and separating the 

 fish should either show signs of exhaus- 

 tion. While it is commonly said that the 

 male assists in the extrusion of the eggs 

 by bringing his body into more or less 

 violent contact with the female, I am in- 

 clined to voice dissent. His movements 

 solely concern the ejection of the sperm 

 and his desire to eject it where it will 

 soonest meet the falling ova. In the ab- 

 sence of a male, a female is well able and 

 does rid herself of ripe ova. Many a 



Goldfish and Lilies in the Garden of Miss J. L. Cornwall 



lop-sided, this being due to the unequal 

 development of the roes. When the at- 

 tentions of the male become so constant 

 as to make it appear that the female is 

 being harassed, then spawning may be 

 expected soon. The desired individuals 

 should be placed in the tub previously 

 prepared, if not already transferred be- 

 fore this stage has been reached. 



The climax is reached during the early 

 hours of the morning, and is usually fin- 

 ished by noon, the period being deter- 

 mined by the size and vigor of the par- 

 ticipants. It is well to terminate the 



fancier has had this experience with a 

 choice fish, to his sorrow. The eggs are 

 expelled during the spasmodic rushes 

 through the plants and adhere to them. 

 When the action becomes desultory, the 

 fish apparently nearing exhaustion, re- 

 move the sexes to separate tanks to recu- 

 perate. 



Within about twenty-four hours the 

 unfertilized eggs will be attached by 

 fungus and appear as tiny, white, fuzzy 

 balls. Remove them with forceps, lest 

 the infection spread to the fertile ones. 

 (Continued on Page 96.) 



