1853.] 887 
Note upon a nest constructed by Catfish. 
By Cuartes Girarp. 
A few days since, in visiting a small pond, situated above Schuylkill Falls vil- 
lage, an innumerable quantity: of small fish were seen along shore, near 
the surface of the water. On approaching them they all suddenly disappeared, 
and the water being muddy, we could not tell where they went. A scoop net 
brought to light a subspherical mass, composed exclusively of green conferve, 
and which after examination proved to be a regular nest, constructed, as we sup- 
pose, by the parent fish, whose progeny it contained; for in it, the small fishes 
seen a moment before near the surface had gone to seek shelter. In all proba- 
bility, the eggs were deposited in it, and when hatched, the young, instead of 
dispersing themselves, remain for some time congregated, under the care of the 
parent who provides food for them. 
The number of young fish gathered around the nest, was at least from three to 
four hundred, and of different sizes. ‘The largest were about 13 inch long, and 
the smallest about 3 of aninch. ‘This difference in size seems to us, as indicating 
that eggs had been deposited and fecundated at different periods in the nest. 
They all had the abdomen distended like full grown individuals before spawn- 
ing. But this was owing to the stomach gorged with food. The skin of the 
belly was so tender that soon after death it was entirely decomposed, the intes- 
tine and stomach then appearing outside of the abdominal cavity. 
The structure of the nest was very simple, conferve in strings were disposed 
circularly all around. ‘The size vf the entire structure was about eight inches 
in its longest, and six inches in its shortest diameter. There was at least one 
opening to get in and out, but this portion of the nest we could not examine 
thoroughly from the want of clear water; and after having been kept for some 
time out of the water, it was entirely deformed. 
The nest laid at the bottom of the pond, one foot anda half deep in that place, 
and protected by aquatic plants growing along shore. The water here is never 
subjected to any violent motion, and thus the soft materials of which it was con- 
structed, were resistant enough for that particular locality. 
We should think that under other circumstances, as, for instance, acurrent of 
water, catfish would construct their nests of a substance more capable of resisting 
a chance of destruction. 
Further observations will teli us more about this interesting subject, and it is 
with the hope that some one, more favorably situated than we are, will devote 
some attention to it, that we have brought before the Academy the very little 
it was our good fortune to observe on this occasion. 
The Committee on the following papers by Prof. Baird and Mr. 
Girard, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 
Descriptions of New Species of Fishes collected by Mr. John H. Clark, on the 
U.S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, under Lt. Col. Jas. D. Graham. 
By Srencer F.. Barrp and Cuartes Girarp. 
Pitroma carponaRia, B. and G.—Body elongated, subfuziform, compressed ; 
peduncles of the tail slightly detached from the outline of the body. Head 
forming about the fifth of the entire length. First dorsal lower than the second, 
composed of fifteen rays; second dorsal containing thirteen rays, the extremity 
of the posterior ones extending farther back than those of the anal. The latter 
have eleven rays, the two anterior of which are short spines. The posterior 
margin of the caudal is very slightly emarginate and composed of seventeen 
well developed rays and several rudimentary ones above and below. The ven- 
trals are lanceolated and composed of one spiny ray and five soft ones; their 
tip extends beyond that of the ventrals, and their insertion is a little in advance 
of the anterior margin of the first dorsal. Their pectorals are broad and com- 
posed of thirteen rays. 
