THE HABITS OF THE BLACK BASS 



into July, the two fish, according to the reports 

 of the United States Fish Commission, prepare 

 the nest with their tails by cleaning a space of all 

 substances, removing the larger stones on the bed 

 with their heads and mouths. 



When the nests are ready for use, both fish, 

 but particularly the male, swim excitedly back and 

 forth about, around, and across the nest. When 

 spawning, as they cross the nest, their bellies lie 

 close together, the female slightly forward of the 

 male, and the eggs and milt are simultaneously 

 voided. The eggs, being viscid, at once become 

 attached to the floor of the nest. The parental 

 solicitude of both fish begins at the moment the 

 eggs are fertilized, one of them hovering over the 

 nest and waving its fins to and fro to keep the eggs 

 free from sediment. The other parent acts as 

 a sentinel and in water of a foot or two swims 

 around the nest at a distance of about ten 

 feet. 



The above notes refer exclusively to the spawn- 

 ing habits of the small-mouthed black bass; those 

 of the large-mouth differ but slightly. The latter 

 seem to prefer to make their nests on the roots of 

 water-plants. 



At the end of three or four days, or sometimes 

 a week, the fry leave the nest and immediately 

 seek shelter in shallows where vegetation is abun- 

 dant. They live mainly on minute larval forms, 



13 



