tun rneon WaAireRs 161 
PARENTAL CARE AMONG FRESH-WATER 
ANIMALS 
The common little Bullhead, or Miller’s 
Thumb, has also to take precautions against 
having its eggs washed away or damaged by 
running water. ‘This little fish is regarded 
with some awe by country children, because 
it apparently utters a cry when it is caught 
and taken out ofthe water. Butthe‘ cry” isno 
more produced by vocal organs than is the 
buzzing of the bee, or the chirping of the grass- 
hopper. The bullhead, in common with a 
good many other fishes, has the habit of 
supplementing its gill-breathing by coming to 
the surface and swallowing a mouthful of air, 
and it is the sudden rush of this air out of its 
body that causes the sound. The bullhead 
lives a solitary life, usually hidden among the 
stones at the bottom of a rapid stream. It 
scoops out a nest beneath a stone, to the under- 
side of which it fastens its cluster of eggs. 
Unlike the lampreys, which show no care for 
their eggs after they have been deposited, 
the male bullhead remains on guard over the 
eggs and young fry for about a month. Then 
the family breaks up, and the young ones seek 
