FISHES. 
27 
might prove extremely dangerous to it. Yet it 
gradually approached the hook^ took it delicately 
up, and the next instant dropped it over the 
edge of the bed.” ^ 
Some other examples of parental care and fore- 
sight have been lately brought under the attention 
of naturalists, which will be noticed in the follow- 
ing pages. The subject is one of great interest, 
and would probably repay careful observation with 
many facts hitherto unsuspected in this extensive 
but comparatively little-known Class of Vertebrate 
animals. 
Mr. Jesse, in his Gleanings,” has given the 
following Table, showing the dijfferent degrees of 
fecundity in different species of Fishes. 
Name of Fish. 
Weight of 
Fish. 
Weight of 
Spawn. 
Number of 
Eggs. 
ozs. 
drs. 
grs. 
Carp 
25.. 
. 5 
2,571 
205,109 
Cod 
12,540 
3,686,760 
Flounder 
24.. 
. 4 
2,200 
1,357,400 
Herring 
5.. 
.10 
480 
36,960 
Mackerel 
18., 
. 0 
1,2231 
546,681 
Perch 
8.. 
. 9 
7651 
28,323 
Pike 
56.. 
. 4 
5,1001 
49,304 
Roach 
10.. 
. 6i 
361 
81,586 
Smelt 
2.. 
. 0 
1491 
38,278 
Sole 
14. < 
. 8 
5424 
100,362 
Tench 
40., 
. 0 
383,252 
Fishes are capable of feeling attachment for 
each other. The pleasing writer just cited, once 
caught a female Pike during the spawning season, 
and nothing could drive the male away from the 
spot at which the female had disappeared, whom 
Orn. Biog. iii. 50. 
