110 FISH HATCHma. 



It is most interesting to watch the egg at 

 the moment of hatching. If you have luck, 

 you may happen to be gazing on a particular 

 egg, when of a sudden you will see it split in 

 twain at the part corresponding to the back 

 of the fish ; you will then see a tiny head 

 with black eyes and a long tail pop out, and 

 you will see the new-born creature give 

 several convulsive shudders in his attempts to 

 quit himself from the now useless egg-shell. 

 (See woodcut.) Poor little fellow ! he can't 

 manage to get out — the shell is too tight for 

 him ; take, therefore, a soft hair-pencil, press 

 lightly on the egg-sheU ; he seems to know 

 you are his friend ; he gives another vigorous 

 kick or two, and presto ! he is free and has 

 commenced life. If we judge from his 

 motions, he must enjoy life, for away he 



