296 FISH CULTURE. 
or suckers with which our common fly and many other 
insects are provided, he found it out of his power to com- 
ply with the requirements of his master, and on attempt- 
ing to continue his walk, fell to the bottom. The wasp 
again led him up, and again he fell. This was repeated 
for the space of three hours, the wasp, in some of her 
attempts, nearly sustaining the whole weight of the roach. 
After being convinced of the impossibility of her accom- 
plishing the feat, I liberated the pair, the wasp soon 
storing her prize away under a bookcase. 
ig 
_— 
FISH CULTURE. 
BY CHARLES G. ATKINS. 
Nearzy all of our common fishes are oviparous, which 
term, as distinguished from viviparous, we may apply to 
those species of animals which are reproduced by eggs 
laid in an undeveloped state. In most cases not only 
are the eggs extruded from the female fish before their 
development, but also that contact of the male element 
which impregnates them, and without which no develop- 
ment is possible, is effected after their extrusion. 
The operation of spawning, or depositing and impreg- 
nating the eggs, as performed by the parent fishes, is 
essentially as follows. At the spawning season, mature 
fishes of both sexes repair to a suitable locality ; and, 
having selected a place, the female extrudes her eggs, 
which sink to the bottom among the pebbles, or, if gluti- 
nous, adhere to sticks, weeds, and stones. At the same 
time, or immediately afterward, the male emits the milt, 
the fecundating element, which, diffused through the 
