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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 Excerpt: ...and there to deposit the myriad ova with which they are laden, which he then protects and guards with the greatest care.20 A more striking case of courtship, as well as of display, by the males of a Chinese Macropus has been given by M. Cnrlxmnier, who carefully observed these fishes under confinement.27 The males are most beautifully coloured, more so t! an the females. During the breeding-season they contend for the possession of the females; and, in the act of courtship, expand their fins, which are spotted and ornamented with brightly coloured rays, in the same manner, according to M. Carbonnier, as the peacock They then also bound about the females with much vivacity, and appear by l'etalage de leurs vives couleurs cherchcr a attirer l'attention des femelles, Icsquelles ne paraissaicnt indifferentes ace manege, elles nageaient avec une molle lenteur vers les males et semblaient se complaire dans leur voisinnge. After the male has won his bride, he makes a little disc of froth byblowing air and mucus out of his mouth. He then collects the fertilised ova, dropped by the female, in his mouth; and this caused M. Carbonnier much alarm, as he thought that they were going to be devoured. But the male soon deposits them in the disc of froth, afterwards guarding them, repairing the froth, and taking care of the young when hatched. I mention these particulars because, as we shall presently see, there are fishes, the 'Nature, ' Mr., 1873, p. 25. 'Bull, de la Soc. d'Acclimat Paris. July 18t9, aud Jan. 1870 males of which hatch their eggs in their mouths; and those who do not believe in the principle of gradual evolution might ask how could such a habit have originated; but the difficulty is much diminished when we know tha...

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