59 
analogy of nature discountenances the opinion, among other 
reasons, because it is not uncommon to find fishes with one 
ovarium shedding spawn, while the other, though not sterile, 
is far from the period of developernent. But as the activity 
of the separate ovaries at different seasons, will explaiu the 
occurrence of young broods at various seasons of the year, so 
!t is probable that the occasional activity of these separate 
organs of an hermopkrodite may lead to the male orgasm at 
one period, and to the female at another. Our common Com- 
ber also (Serranus Cabrilla, Yarrell’s Br. F., vol. 1,) has 
been judged capable of independent propagation, from the 
occurrence of a small portion of a soft substance resembling 
melt, near tbe duct of the much larger rue or ovary. In 
this fish the funnel shaped organ through which t Ire grains 
pass, is on ordinary occasions turned into the body ; but on 
pressure, which perhaps the fish effects against some solid 
body, it becomes everted, and the ova are guided by it into a 
favourable situation. 
The Perch is described as pressing a pointed stick or stone 
into contact with a pea, aud by the motion of its own body 
drawing them over tbe selected spot. Other fishes are said 
lo require the lateral pressure of a couple of males in the 
Process of parturition, and in some the melt is diffused over 
the pea after it has been shed in the proper situation, the dilu- 
l| on of water offering no hindrance ; for it lias been found on 
tr ial, that the prolific fluid is not rendered less efficacious, but 
? v ®n more so, by being largely mixed with water ; and that it 
,s not less so even when the parent lias been dead for a day 
°r two : a circumstance worthy of notice to those who may 
tvish to stock their ponds with fish. 
The pea produced in exposed situations must suffer great 
diminution from the voracity of the numerous tribes that as- 
semble at the expected season, to devour it ; but this destruc- 
ll °n bears only a limited proportion to that of the fish in tbe 
e arly stages of their growth, at which period they are preyed 
0, i abundantly by almost every other individual of larger 
growth, including those of their own kind. 
riie interval between the shedding of the pea and the es- 
cape of the young, lias been ascertained only in a few species, 
atl d is probably subject to diversity according to the tem- 
perature and situation. Bloch observed the Perch to quit 
I e gg in from six to eight days, and we have already noted 
t Jat in some instances of the Salmon, the interval has been so 
great as 130 days ; but tbe subsequent growth of few fishes is 
®<lual to that of the Salmon tribe, of which the chief, the Sul- 
' u n itself, having reached the lenglit of about three inches in 
■ Pril, has been known to acquire the weight of four pounds 
June, six in August and thirteen in September. (Jesse’s 
