l88 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [vol. 50 



waiting for this function, and a fight then ensues. The deposit of 

 eggs is made on the bare rock or stones or the ground, generally 

 "about low-water mark." 



As a rule, the female lays all her eggs "at one time," but occa- 

 sionally they are deposited in two or perhaps more lots. "One of 

 the females" observed by Fulton "deposited her eggs in two lots 

 after an interval of thirteen days. The eggs in the ovary f just before 

 extrusion, are bathed in a plentiful fluid, but they are not adherent ; 

 when the fingers are passed through the mass, the feeling conveyed 

 resembles that of contact with a mass of half-boiled sago. Around 

 the eggs the secretion is syrupy, and on separating them glutinous 

 threads pass between them. This substance hardens in sea water and 

 binds the eggs into a large, compact, spongy mass, leaving narrow 

 channels between them by which water enters." 



Some excellent observations were made in 1906 by Dr. T. Wemyss 

 Fulton, in Scotland. A couple of males were confined in an 

 aquarium with two females, both of which "laid their eggs in the 

 same corner." On the 24th of March one victorious male assumed 

 charge of both deposits and "showed throughout the whole period" 

 of development of the eggs "the most rancorous and persistent ani- 

 mosity to the unattached one. The latter, on the other hand, dis- 

 played the greatest fear of his successful rival." The male "which 

 was worsted in the nuptial fight never regained courage to attempt 

 further contest for his rights, but displayed a most craven spirit 

 from first to last, lurking in the darkest part of the tank as far from 

 his rival as he could get. * * * Whenever the guarding male 

 saw his late opponent moving, even a comparatively little way from 

 his retreat, he rushed at him with the utmost fury. * * * and 

 the other male made off with equal speed and often attempted to 

 jump out of the water, or was partly knocked out. On such occa- 

 sions so much commotion was made that waves were created in the 

 tank and the other fishes were alarmed. These were the only oc- 

 casions that the guardian left the eggs for a few moments. The ani- 

 mosity was kept up during the whole period of the experiment, 



* * *. The females took no part at all in looking after the eggs. 



* * * They lay indolent and quiet at the back of the tank for 

 some days." The victor male enjoys exemption from the further 

 intrusion of a beaten rival. 



The guardian male, while constant in his attention to his charge, 

 varies in his position; sometimes he rests by the side of the mass 

 and sometimes he may turn his back on the eggs and cling to a 

 corner or wall next to which they have been laid. The Lumpfish 



