92 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
impossible to detect them. They were for a time 
confined to the meshes of the nest and its near 
neighbourhood, but by degrees were allowed 
greater space, and the parent fish hollowed out 
a sort of small basin for them, in which they dis- 
ported themselves until they were strong enough 
to take a wider range. In consequence of there 
being no other fish in the vessel, we did not see 
the battles and stratagems which are carried on 
between companion and rival fishes when engaged 
in similar parental duties. The encounters upon 
such occasions are said to be fearful and pro- 
longed, and it is not without reason the young 
nestlings are so carefully guarded, as acts of 
cannibalism are not infrequent.” 
