. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 500 FISHES Erie. It is a voracious, carnivorous Fish, preying upon other Fish as well as upon fresh-water Crustaceans and Insects, very tenacious of life, and of no economic value. The male is smaller than the female, about 18 inches in lengTh, and is distinguished by the presence of a round black spot, encircled by a margin of orange, at the base of the caudal fin (Fig. 295). The female may exceed 24 inches. Amia frequently rises to the surface, especially when the water is foul, and takes in large mouthfuls of air, and it is prob- able that the air i
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 500 FISHES Erie. It is a voracious, carnivorous Fish, preying upon other Fish as well as upon fresh-water Crustaceans and Insects, very tenacious of life, and of no economic value. The male is smaller than the female, about 18 inches in lengTh, and is distinguished by the presence of a round black spot, encircled by a margin of orange, at the base of the caudal fin (Fig. 295). The female may exceed 24 inches. Amia frequently rises to the surface, especially when the water is foul, and takes in large mouthfuls of air, and it is prob- able that the air is subsequently passed into the spacious cellular air-bladder which acts as a lung. The breeding season, during which the coloration of the Fish is more brilliant than at other times, lasts from the beginning of May to June, but it may begin and end somewhat earlier if the temperature be favourable. The. Fig. 295.—The Bow-Fin {Amia calra). (From a specimen in the Cambridge University Museum.) x -J-. Fish makes its way from the deeper water, where it has remained sluggish during the winter, to the spawning ground. This is usually at the swampy end of a lake where there is an abundance of aquatic herbage intersected by channels of clear water. There the Fish is said to circle round until the soft weeds and rootlets are bent and crushed aside, so as to leave an area having the appearance of a crude form of nest,-' in which the eggs are deposited. They may be found in enormous numbers adhering to the leaves and rootlets of the weedy home. After oviposition the male remains on guard until the young are hatched out, when they appear to leave the nest in a body, still under the pro- tection of their watchful parent. At all events a little later the male has been observed to be accompanied by a swarm of young fry, which he keeps together by circling round them. The development of the eggs is remarkably rapid. From the iirst cleavage of the egg to the hatching of the embryo the whole '
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1895
