Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-02-12
NEsT-BUILDlNc FISHES.
Some Interesting Discoveries Abont Cat
Fish and Other Members OF the Finny

1t is generally supposed that fshes
take no care whatever of their young.
leaving them entirely to the attention
of nature, says Professor Theodore
Gill, of Washington. But the fact is
very much otherwise with many spe-
cies. The most remarkable point,
however, regarding certain kinds of
tinny creatures in their pareatal relar
tions is that males do the care taking,
and not the females. Very interesting
discoveries have been recently made
with regard to the habits of nest-build-
ing fishes, the catfish among others.
If you VIII so out any time during:
the month of August in this latitude.
you will see in the streams and ponds
pig catfish of the common sort, each
Que accompanied by swarm of small
Try. In each case the old one is a
male and he is engaged in taking care
OF his offspring. If an intruder comes
near he will dash at him and drive him
away. 1t has been known for a long
while that cathshes had this way OF
guarding their young but only lately
has it been ascertained that it was the
papa fish which did the caretaking.
Some time back there was a pair OF
cat-flshes in one of the aquaria at the
building of the Fish Commission. At
spawning time eggs were laid, and one
OF the parents kept watch over them,
not permitting the other to come near.
The young were duly Matched and
thrived, being cared for in this wav
until they were big enough to look out
for themselves. Then the fish which
had stood guard was taken out and dis
sected, the result being that it was
found to be the male.
i I'm their native ponds and brooks
you will find large broods of young
catfish as big as three-fourths of an
inch in length remaining together in
focks, each flock accompanied by the
male. Sometimes the latter will swim
slowly along in the center of the flock
and at other times alongside. In lay
ing their eggs the parent cat-tishes
select spot where the water is quiet,
if possible protected by aquatic plants.
and there they make nest. perhaps
eight inches by six, inclosing the
spawn. The nest has soft outer en-
velope, and over it the male hovers,
forcing fresh water through the mass
by rapid vibrations of its fins, until
after about a week they are hatchetl.
sometimes the male catfish takes
care OF its young in Il still more pecu-
!. liar manner There is kind found in
! the sen. the eggs laid by which are as
big as small bullet. These egys are
found in the mouths OF the males.
!, which do this to protect them. After
-the eggs are laid the pap, catfish takes
them Into his mouth and keeps them
there until they are all hatched when
they so out and take care Of them
selves.
But this method is not confined to
the caliishes. There, are found in
Africa aud South Africa !, species
whic: resemble the s,,niish of our own
streams. These 'cicIli,i>. as they are
called, are also plentiful in Texas and
Palestine. They are often found with
their cheeks fairly bullying wit, young.
In the sea of G;.lilee the cichlids are so
numerous that the miraculous catch of
the time when St. Peter tished there
might be repeated any day. it being
the manner of these fishes to move
about on the top Of the water in soli,i
masses. covering many square yards
and making noise like that of raiu
| pouring