The small mouthed black bass prefers to make his nest on sand, gravel or rocky ledges, the male fish doing all the nest building. Sometimes he will merely scoop out a depression in the sand and occasionally one will roll pebbles into a cluster and carefully polish each one although generally they are not as good housekeepers as their smaller cousins, the common sunfish.
When the nest is completed the fish sallies forth like a knight of old seeking ye laydie faire. When he finds her he exerts himself to make a favorable impression meanwhile driving the trying-to-appear-reluctant charmer into the nest. Here he ascertains whether or not she is ripe. If not he angrily drives her away and seeks a more suitable mate. If she is ready to expel the eggs he induces her to do so and fertilizes them as they are ejected. Upon completing this function the female's interest in the family ceases forthwith and the male proceeds to guard the precious eggs, hovering over them diligently, fanning with fins and tail to keep the water circulating over them and to
