numbers have been actually observed, the males appear to be largely in
excess. Thus Mr. R. Buist, the superintendent of the Stormontfield
experiments, says that in 1865, out of 70 salmon first landed for the
purpose of obtaining the ova, upwards of 60 were males. In 1867 he
again calls attention to the vast disproportion of the males to the
females. We had at the outset at least ten males to one female.
Afterwards females sufficient for obtaining ova were procured. He adds,
from the great proportion of the males, they are constantly fighting
and tearing each other on the spawning-beds. (71. The Stormontfield
Piscicultural Experiments, 1866, p. 23. The Field newspaper, June
29, 1867.) This disproportion, no doubt, can be accounted for in part,
but whether wholly is doubtful, by the males ascending the rivers
before the females. Mr. F. Buckland remarks in regard to trout, that
it is a curious fact that the males preponderate very largely in
number over the females. It INVARIABLY happens that when the first rush
of fish is made to the net, there will be at least seven or eight males
to one female found captive. I cannot quite account for this; either
the males are more numerous than the females, or the latter seek safety
by concealment rather than flight. He then adds, that by carefully
searching the banks sufficient females for obtaining ova can be found.
(72. Land and Water, 1868, p. 41.) Mr. H. Lee informs me that out of
212 trout, taken for this purpose in Lord Portsmouth s park, 150 were
males and 62 females.
The males of the Cyprinidae likewise seem to be in excess; but several
members of this Family, viz., the carp, tench, bream and minnow, appear
regularly to follow the practice, rare in the animal kingdom, of
polyandry; for the female whilst spawning is always attended by two
males, one on each side, and in the case of the bream by three or four
males. This fact is so well known, that it is always recommended to
stock a pond with two male tenches to one female, or at least with
three males to two females. With the minnow, an excellent observer
states, that on the spawning-beds the males are ten times as numerous
as the females; when a female comes amongst the males, she is
immediately pressed closely by a male on each side; and when they have
been in that situation for a time, are superseded by other two males.
(73. Yarrell, Hist. British Fishes, vol. i. 1826, p. 307; on the
Cyprinus carpio, p. 331; on the Tinca vulgaris, p. 331; on the Abramis
brama, p. 336. See, for the minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus), Loudon s
Magazine of Natural History, vol. v. 1832, p. 682.)
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