292 MR. E. W. L. TTOLT OTf THE [-^W- ^^' 



gravel. At about 4 p.m. activity recommenced, but in a much less 

 degree. No pairing was observed in the evening, at night, or 

 very early in the morning. 



The notes have chiefly been drawn from this period. With a 

 view to farther observations I collected as many living Dragonets, 

 of mature size, as possible, and placed them in the tank. All fish 

 of other species, except the rockling, were removed, as they were 

 constantly getting in the way and obscuring the view. 



Dragoiiets are very delicate fish, and large ones are especially 

 difficult to bring in in good condition, since, if they do not die on 

 the way, they often succumb very shortly to injuries they may 

 have received in the net. The caudal fin is particularly liable to 

 abrasion, which almost always proves fatal, the fin sloughing away 

 and the fish dying within a few days. A number of fish were 

 brought in, comprising but a few females, and I believe that all 

 the latter died. I wished to observe the behaviour of a large 

 female, about 23 cm. in length. She appeared fully ripe and was 

 assiduously courted by the males, but made no response, and 

 succumbed in the usual way to injury of the caudal fin. 



Pairing was again observed on the 8th March, and continued, 

 somewhat intermittently, for about ten days. Only one female 

 was engaged, and, if not the same individual as paired in the 

 previous month, she was of about the same length, and therefore 

 greatly inferior in size to her partners. There were five males 

 with fully-developed sexual characters, including the two which 

 took part in the proceedings of the previous month. None were 

 in very brilhant colour, and one in particular, belonging, I think, 

 to the original stock, had practically lost all the brilliant yellow of 

 the body- bands. On the 12th March I spent some time in 

 watching the pairing-operations, wishing to obtain some know- 

 ledge of the selective proclivities of the female. I shall call the 

 males A, B, 0, D, and E. A and B are large ; C and D are rather 

 smaller, but as well furnished, both as to colour and differentiation 

 of fins ; E is large, but dull in colour. The female may be 

 called G. 



A and G ascend together, and come down, quite near each 

 other and near B. B immediately approaches Gr, and exhibits 

 himself several times to her, just in front of A, who lies still, 

 breathing rather rapidly but making no sign. G accepts B's 

 attention and they are about to ascend, when they lose hold and 

 separate. They very shortly adjust matters and start again. 

 Just as they are leaving the bottom, A rouses himself, and, setting 

 up his fins, darts under them, sweeping their bellies with his first 

 dorsal. They are not disturbed and consummate their tour. In 

 descending G swims off to the neighbourhood of D. I did not 

 see B engaged again on that morning. 



Subsequently A and G are about to ascend, when C, who is 

 much smaller than A, approaches and makes demonstrations. A 

 leaves G and sets his fins at C. A few counter-demonstrations 

 ensue, until, when both are in full array, A suddenly darts above 



