THE. HATCHING OF OTA. 85 



Froin this time till the hatching, which takes place 

 from a fortnight to three weeks or a month subse- 

 quently, the shell of the egg gradually grows thinner 

 and thiimer, and the motions and development of the 

 embryo within more rapid and constant, and more 

 clear and distinct. Some morning, when you visit 

 your trays you observe a small reddish shining spot 

 amongst the ova, rather larger than a pellet of ova, 

 which catches the eye instantly ; and on looking 

 closer, you find that one of your fish has thrown off 

 its shell, and emerged to life, 



" Take it up tenderly, 

 Treat it with care, 

 Fashioned so — " 



No, not "slenderly," for a more tmwieldy, delicate, 

 clumsy, welcome little stranger does not exist to 

 gladden the eyes of the delighted pisciculturist 

 withal Now you have it in the little glass reser- 

 voir, with a drop or two of water around and over 

 it, under the microscope. How it wriggles and 

 kicks' what vigorous vitality is here, in this little 

 curious object! Now it is quiescent, and what a 

 wondrous spectacle is revealed to you ! Is this a fish 

 or a new kind of tadpole ? Verily, Sir Philosopher, 

 it is of fish, fishy— though npt, perchance, fishlike. 

 Could this strange, helpless little thing ever become 



