930 FISHES — CENTEAKCHID^. 



" This fish piefeiB still and clear waters. In the spring, the female prepares herself 

 a circular nest, by removing all reeds or other dead aquatic plants from a chosen spot 

 of a foot or more in diameter, so as to leave bare the clean gravel or sand ; this she ex- 

 cavates to the depth of three or four inches, and then deposits her spawn, which she 

 watches with the greatest vigilance; and it is curious to see how carefully she guards 

 this nest against all intruders ; in every fish, even those of her own species, she sees 

 only an enemy, and is restless and uneasy till she has driven it away from her nursery. 

 We often find groups of the nests placed near each other along the margin of the pond 

 or river that the fish inhabits, but always in very shallow water; hence they are liable 

 to be left dry, in seasons of great drought. These curious nests are frequently encircled 

 by aquatic plants, forming a curtain around them, but a large space is invariably left 

 open for the admission of light." 



Thoreau (Week on Concord and Merrimack) thus spoke of this fish : 



" It is the most common of all, and seen on every urchin's string ; a simple and inof- 

 fensive fish, whose nests are visible all along the shore, hollowed in the sand, over 

 which it is steadily poised through the summer hours on waving fin. Sometimes there 

 are 20 to 30 nests In the space of a few roads, two feet wide by half a foot in depth and 

 made with no little labor, the weeds being removed, and the sand shoved up on the 

 sides, like a bowl. Here it may be seen early in summer assiduously brooding, and 

 driving away minnows and larger fishes, even its own species, which would disturb its 

 ova, pursing them a few feet, and circling around swiltly to its nest again ; the min- 

 nows, like young sharks, instantly entering the empty nests, meanwhile, and swallow- 

 ing the spawn, which is attached to the weefls and to the bottom on the sunny side. The 

 spawn is exposed to so many dangers that a very small proportion can ever become fishes, 

 for besides being the constant prey of birds and fiahes, a great many neats are made so 

 near the shore, in shallow water, that they are left dry in a few days, as the river goes 

 do\i n. These and the Lampreys are the only fishes' nest that I have observed, though 

 the ova of some species may be seen floating on the surface. The breams are so careful 

 of their charge that yon may stand close by in the water and examine them at your 

 leisure. I have thus stood over them half an hour at a time and stroked them familiarly 

 without frightening them, suffering them to nibble at my finger harmlessly, and seen 

 them erect their dorsal flns in anger when my hand approached their ova and have even 

 taken them gently out of the water with my hand ; though this cannot be accomplished 

 by any sudden movement, however dexterous, for instant warning is conveyed to them 

 through their denser element, but only by letting the fingers gradually close about them 

 as they ara poised over the palm and with the utmost gentleness raising them slowly to 

 the surface. 



"Though stationary, they keep np a constant sculling or waving motion with their 

 fins, which is exceedingly gracefal, and expressive of their humble happiness, for unlike 

 ours, the element in which they live is a stream which must be constantly resisted. From 

 time to time they nibble the weedsat the bottom oroverhanging their nests or dart after a 

 fly or worm. The dorsal fin besides answering the purpose of a keel, with the an al, serves to 

 keep the fish upright, for in sh allow water where this is not covered, they fall on their sides. 



" As you stand thus stooping over the bream in its nest, the edges of the dorsal and 

 caudal fins have a singular dusty golden reflection, and its eyes which stand out from 

 the head, are transparent and colorless. Seen in its native element, it is a very beauti- 

 ful and compact fish, perfect in all its parts, and looks like a brilliant coin fresh from 

 the mint. It is a perfect jewel of the river, the green, red, coppery, and golden reflec- 



