ABSTRACT
Fish vary greatly in their reproductive habits. Some are territorial, m ost are not; some are social, others are not. T heir m ating habits vary too. M ost are polygam ous, each m ale fertilizing (externally) the eggs o f m any females. B u t some are m onogam ous, some have internal fertilization and a few are viviparous. Parental behaviour ranges from the guarding o f eggs and young by one or b o th parents, th rough the abandonm ent o f eggs in carefully prepared places, to the simple abandonm ent o f eggs anyw here in the sea (figure i) . T he follow ing descriptions w ill show to w hat extent courtship varies w ith these factors.
