TKOTJT BREEDING. 61 



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7 S d lO U. 12 



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The plate above, was drawn for tWs book, by my es- 

 teemed friend Ainsworth, to whom I have so often alluded. 

 The following explanations of the different figures are his 

 own words. 



" In a few hours after the spawn is taken, there is a 

 small light brown spot to be seen on the top of the egg 

 whether it is impregnated or not. Turn the egg over any 

 way, in many ways, and as often as you please, this speck 

 will soon rise to the top. This is the germ where impreg- 

 nation takes place. Whether it is between the two mem- 

 branes of the ova,* or under the inner membrane, I am not 

 able to say ; but it is certain it revolves within the outer 

 membrane to the top. This speck, when the egg is held 

 before the light in a small vial, looks to be about the size 

 of the head of a small pin elongated upwards, as shown in 



* There are two membranes to the eggs of fishes, or at least to 

 those whose young come forth with an umbilical sac. That part 

 contained within the inner membrane, it may be said, is somewhat 

 analogous to the yolk in the egg of a fowl, and is the umbilical sac 

 when the fish is hatched out. Hence, it is asserted by some, that 

 the young fish emerges from the egg with the yolk attached. 

 6 



