930 FISHES—CENTRARCHIDZ. 
‘This fish prefers still and clear waters. In the spring, the female prepares herself 
a circular nest, by removing all reeds or other dead aquatic plants from a chosen spot: 
of a foot or more in diameter, so as to leave bare the clean gravel or sand; this she ex- 
cavates to the depth of three or four inches, and then deposits her spawn, which she 
watches with the greatest vigilance; and it is curious to see how carefully she guards 
this nest against all intruders; in every fish, even those of her own species, she sees 
only an enemy, and is restless and uneasy till she has driven it away from her nursery. 
We often find groups of the nests placed near each other along the margin of the pond 
or river that the fish inhabits, but always in very shallow water; hence they are liable 
to be left dry, in seasons of great drought. These curious nests are frequently encircled 
by aquatic plants, forming a curtain around them, but a large space is invariably left 
open for the admission of light.” 
Thoreau (Week on Concord and Merrimack) thus spoke of this fish: 
‘‘ Tt is the most common of all, and seen on every urchin’s string; a simple and inof- 
fensive fish, whose nests are visible all along the shore, hollowed in the sand, over 
which it is steadily poised through the summer hours on waving fin. Sometimes there 
are 20 to 30 nests in the space of a few roads, two feet wide by half a foot in depth and 
made with no little labor, the weeds being removed, and the sand shoved up on the 
sides, like a bowl. Here it may be seen early in summer assiduously brooding, and 
driving away minnows and larger fishes, even its own species, which would disturb its 
ova, pursing them a few feet, and circling around swittly to its nest again; the min- 
nows, like young sharks, instantly entering the empty nests, meanwhile, and swallow- 
ing the spawn, which is attached to the weeds and to the bottom on the sunny side. The 
spawn is exposed to so many dangers that a very small proporiion can ever become fishes, 
for besides being the constant prey of birds and fishes, a great many nests are made so 
near the shore, in shallow water, that they are left dry in a few days, as the river goes 
down. These and the Lampreys are the only fishes’ nest that I have observed, though 
the ova of some species may be seen floating on the surface. The breams are so careful 
of their charge that you may stand close by in the water and examine them at your 
leisure. I have thus stood over them half an hour at a time and stroked them familiarly 
without frightening them, suffering them to nibble at my finger harmlessly, and seen 
them erect their dorsal flns in anger when my hand approached their ova and have even 
taken them gently out of the water with my hand; though this cannot be accomplished 
by any sudden movement, however dexterous, for instant warning is conveyed to them 
through their denser element, but only by letting the fingers gradually close about them 
as they aro poised over the palm and with the utmost gentleness raising them slowly to 
the surface. 
‘¢Though stationary, they keep up a constant sculling or waving motion with their 
fins, which is exceedingly graceful, and expressive of their humble happiness, for unlike 
ours, the element in which they live is astream which must be constantly resisted. From 
time to time they nibble the weedsat the bottom or overhanging their nests or dart after a 
fly or worm. The dorsal fin besides answering the purpose of a keel, with the anal, serves to 
keep the fish upright, for in shallow water where this is not covered, they fall on their sides. 
‘¢ As you stand thus stooping over the bream in its nest, the edges of the dorsal and 
caudal fins have a singular dusty golden reflection, and its eyes which stand out from 
the head, are transparent and colorless. Seen in its native element, it is a very beauti- 
ful and compact fish, perfect in all its parts, and looks like a brilliant coin fresh from 
the mint. Itis a perfect jewel of the river, the green, red, coppery, and golden reflec- 
