NATURAL HISTORY, TORONTO REGION 
or mud by the action of the fins. Over these the 
males keep guard until the young are hatched, in the 
meantime driving off all intruders and promoting cir- 
culation of the water by fanning with ventral fins 
and tail. 
41. Large-mouthed Black Bass. Yellow Bass. Green 
Bass. Micropterus salmoides (Lacépéde).—At one 
time this fish was abundant in the waters of this 
locality, but it is now very scarce. The spawning 
season begins in May and ends at the beginning of 
July. A nest is scooped out of the sand or mud, in 
which the adhesive eggs are deposited. These are 
guarded by the parent fish until hatched. Incuba- 
tion lasts from one to two weeks, according to the 
temperature of the water, and the young bass, after 
emerging from the eggs, remain in the nest for about 
a week. As the weather becomes cold this Bass 
seeks deep places, often hibernating under rocks, 
sunken logs, or in the mud. In the summer its 
favourite localities are under overhanging banks or 
in holes among weeds, where it lies in wait for the 
frogs, fish and crustaceans which constitute the 
greater part of its food. 
Prrcmar. (The Perches.) 
42. Yellow Pickerel. Pike-Perch. Dore. Stzzos- 
tedion vitreum (Mitchill)—The Yellow Pickerel is 
common in some parts of Lake Ontario, but is not 
often taken near Toronto. Its spawning time is in 
early spring, when it runs on to gravelly or sandy 
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