178 Part III. — Twenty -fourth Annual Report 



(2) The guardianship is prolonged till the eggs hatch, probably till 



all are hatched, a period exceeding two months in duration. 



(3) The male not only protects the eggs from enemies, but is con- 



stantly engaged in cleansing and aerating them, both by the 

 movement of his fins and by spouting currents of water upon 

 them from his mouth. 



(4) He removes from them or their immediate neighbourhood foreign 



bodies which might injure them, and carries them to a distance. 



(5) The male fasts during at least the greater part of his long vigil, 



but begins to feed towards its close. 



(6) He drives away other males, and displays great animosity to 



them throughout the whole period. 



(7) This animosity is shown only when the eggs are present. 



(8) The period of incubation may extend over 40 davs. 



(9) The hatching of the eggs is also prolonged and gradual, those at 



the surface of the mass hatching first, and those at the centre 

 last ; aud this difference in the rate of development is probably 

 correlated with a difference in the degree of aeration or oxy- 

 genation of the eggs, the better oxygenated hatching first. 



