THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
63 
The Sun Fish is everywhere common in American fresh waters, where it 
sometimes attains a weight of nearly one pound. As every person is familiar 
with its appearance, description is not necessary, but not every one is aware of 
the fact that it constructs nests in which to deposit its eggs. In this process 
both male and female engage. Having selected a suitable spot in still water 
near the shore, where small "drift has settled in the mud, the two hollow out 
a circular space by swiftly circling, as if chasing each other, until a round 
nest, dipping in the centre, with twigs lining the periphery, is made. In this 
the female deposits her spawn while the male rises a few inches above her, and 
ejects his milt until the water about the nest is so impregnated as to hide the 
two entirely from view for some time. 
The White Fish, peculiar to the fresh waters of Europe, are a species little 
larger than the sticklebacks, and their habits are not less interesting. Their 
method of nest 
building is by 
carrying small 
pebbles to a chosen 
spot and dropping 
them one by one, 
with patient indus¬ 
try, until a small 
pyramid is formed. 
As the work goes 
on, the female from 
time to time de¬ 
posits her spawn 
in the growing 
pyramid until the 
laying is com¬ 
pleted and theeggs 
are covered. The 
male now en¬ 
velopes the nest 
with his milt,which 
appears to settle 
like a film over 
the pebbles, and 
may be seen for 
days after. 
The Piraya is a species of bream found in tropical waters, and chiefly 
about the East India coast. It never goes into deep water, its range being 
restricted to inlets where vegetation is rank. The nest which this small crea¬ 
ture builds is very curious as well as substantial, and rivals that of the tailor 
bird. When the breeding season arrives the male goes in search of a vine or 
branch suspended in the water, and having found such he begins carrying 
small pieces of decayed vegetation, such as leaves and sticks, to the hanging 
branch, and attaches ; them thereto by a secretion which has the adhesiveness 
of glue. The work progresses without cessation until the accumulation on the 
point oi the pendant vine is nearly a foot in diameter. The female superin- 
GOby, or jumping fish ( Periophthalmus kczlreuteri), of Borneo. 
