Some fishes that live on the bottom have a queer way of lying close on the sand, with their mouths wide open. They pant as if in great pain. But they are not in pain, they are sifting their food out of the water. Look into their throats, and you will see a network, like fine bones. That is their sieve to catch small food. Some fish are timid, and hide at the least sound. Others are fearless, and lie in plain view, or boldly follow their prey. A fish darting after his food is a fine sight. His jaws are open; his spines stand in a ridge on his back; his eyes gleam. His whole body seems alert and full of fire. You should watch fish for yourselves. You have seen gold and silver fish in globes. Other fish are often kept in ponds and fountains as pets. They become very tame. Sometimes they learn to know those who feed them, and will come when called. FOOTNOTES: [32] See Nature Reader, No. 1, Lesson 8. LESSON XLIV. FRY AND SCHOOL. A fish comes from an egg, as a bird does. There are one or two kinds that are born as little live fishes. But the rule is that the fishes hatch out of tiny eggs. The mother fish drops these eggs in the water, or carefully lays them in some place which she prepares for them. [Illustration: A CURIOUS CRADLE.] After they are laid, these eggs are called spawn. Before they are laid, they lie in a solid mass together. There are many thousands of them in each mass, and they are then called roe. I have told you of the wonderful number of eggs laid by insects. But fish surpass even the insects in the number of eggs. These eggs are subject to very many dangers. Fish, crabs, and water-fowls eat them. The waves may dash them ashore, and so they will be dried up. Therefore it is needful that there should be a great many, so that after all disasters a large number may hatch. The eggs of fish are of a pearly white, or a cream color. They are covered with a kind of glue, so that they stick together. They also stick to weeds, or rock, or sand, where they are laid. There are very few fish that carry their eggs about with them, after they are laid. The fish presses its body against the eggs, which stick to it, and are carried about, until they hatch. You have read of the crab which took care of its eggs in this way.[33] As the little fish grows within the egg, the soft skin-like case becomes very thin. When the time comes for hatching, the little fish breaks the case, and comes out. As a general rule, the little fish, just out of the egg, looks and acts like the parent fish. But there are some that change much between their first and their full-grown states. Let us now look at some curious fish eggs and fish nests. Of all the fin family, the dog-fish has the most curious cradle for its young. The egg-case of the dog-fish is a horny bag, or purse. It is of a gray or blackish color, about an inch wide, and two inches long. At each of the four corners, it has a long, stiff, curly stem.