The Fish World at Home. 229 



in the water, and in this case the materials for the structure 

 must have been carried about thirty feet. Mr. Couch observes 

 on this interesting phenomenon, that the roe does not appear to 

 be deposited all at once, that it is passed through the mass 

 which forms the nest in various directions, and appears in little 

 clumps in various stages of development. He adds — " They 

 are watched over by the parent — in every case, I believe, by 

 the male — who never quits his station; but an instance has 

 occurred where two fishes have been engaged in attending one 

 nest ; and if the guardian is forced to retreat by the receding 

 of the tide, he returns as soon as the way is open, and for three 

 or four weeks continues his guard, until the young are able of 

 themselves to take their chance in the broad expanse of the 

 sea. So much is he intent on the principal objects of his 

 solicitude, that at this time himself may be easily caught, but 

 he resents every interference with his nest ; and if the grains of 

 ova be exposed to sight, as was done by way of trial, the 

 breach was immediately repaired by the labour of dragging the 

 materials into a position by which they were again concealed 

 and protected." 



Referring those who desire to gain a knowledge of the various 

 genera and species of British fishes to Mr. Couch's agreeable 

 and richly-illustrated pages, we may advert to the labours of 

 Dr. Dufosse in rescuing the piscine world from the wholesale 

 charges of dumbness that have been brought against it, and 

 showing the foundation of ancient stories that were too often 

 disbelieved. His researches have been chiefly confined to the 

 gurnards and dories, which he tells us are able to utter pro- 

 longed and varied notes by means of vibrations in the muscles 

 of their swimming bladder, and if all that the learned doctor 

 tells us be true, the fish family may have oral discussions 

 and concerts of their own, the performers being able to execute 

 passages which an opera prima donna would be astonished to 

 hear. This certainly opens a new view of submarine society. 

 It may, after all, be diversified by other incidents, besides 

 devouring and being devoured; fishes may exchange such 

 thoughts and sentiments as their feeble brains may form, and 

 their existence be rather more than 



" A cold, sweet, silver life, wrapp'd in round waves, 

 Quickened with touches of transporting fear." 



VOL. I. — NO. III. II 



