Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
THE NEW TESTAMENT FISH


A REMARKABLE instance of parental care
"A Is found in the cichlids, which are inhabi-
tants of the fresh waters of tropical Africa and
America, and Palestine IN Asia One species
found III the sea OF tIai1lee. Is SAID to have
formed the miraculous draft OF fishes recorded
in the New Testament. while another species,
found in the same body of water, Is supposed
to be the fish out of whose mouth the apostle
Simon Peter got the tribute money.
When breeding, the female deposits about
two hundred eggs In little excavation which
she works out among the rusheS and roots.
The male fecundates them, and few minutes
afterwards he take the eggs one after another
iato his mouth. and keeps them IN the buccal
cavity against his cheeks. which then appear
swollen IN extraordinary manner The
eggs. although they not attached by
any membrane or adhesive substance, remain
securely in his mouth, and are never dropped
while he is in the water In this novel incuba-
tor the eggs hatch out IN a few days The
fry, however, do not quit their parents mouth
even then but remain packed IN there Tor
some DAYS.
Finally the Young leave their babyhood
home but soon as danger threatens they
al reenter the old fishs mouth.
Another instance of fatherly care IS wit
rleSsed each evening about shutdown, when
the parent gathers all of his brood together,
one by one, into his mouth, and retains them
safely there until morning. Even after the
young are too large to reenter the mouth, the
old one keeps a watchful eye over them and
IS ever ready to drive away possible enemy.
In the case of an African species, the female
takes care of the eggs and the young.
A MOTHERLY FATHER
THE rainbow fishes of India noted for
the ingenious nests they build, and for
the care with which the male guards the eggs
and the Young. This fish sometimes grows to
a length of about five inches but those OF
enc and d half inches are most common.
As spawning time approaches, the male
goes through somewhat prolonged courtsh1p
with the female, and then proceeds to prepare
q nest SEEING little plant IN his mouth, he
carries 1t to the surface, and, In order to pre-
vent II from sinking to the bottom he sucks
in a few bubbles of air, which he divides and
places Immediately beneath the plant. He
keeps on bringing plants and blowing bubbles
Of air under them until he has a regular floating
island on the surface OF the water
The little workman then brings the female
Under the nest, where she en1ts her eggs,
which, owing to their lghtness, rise and
become attached to the nest. The female
then considers that she has done her duty and
tlecamps, leaving to the male the OF
rearing tie family, task of which he acqults
himself with truly paternal zeal First, he
arranges the eggs In orderly fashion, and
then, issuing from the rest, he contracts the
entrance. As he swims round and round the
nest, he Is continually on the lookout for weak
spots In it, which he at proceeds to
bolster up with fresh ar bubbles.
At the end of seventy hours he enters the
.1est and pierces its summit, allowing the air
escape, whereupon the dome fatteas on
the water. Fearing lest the young should
escape his care, he tears away at the outer
edges of the nest until he has a sort OF pendent
fringe which the young ones not able to
PASS Should any OF them venture to descend
vertically, the parent Immediately goes III
search of them and carries them back to the
nest. About eight or ten DAYS after the sinking
Il the nest. the last young leaves it, and the
,s.-ents work is over for the season.
THE CATFISHES' CARE
MOST OF the cathshes found in this country
AVA are notable for the parental care they
exercise over their eggs and young Usually
,unrl. flaN1lNeS hut