23 



Phthinobranchii 



Lord, from observations on Gasterosteus cataphractus on Van- 

 couver Island, although the source of his secretion was mis- 

 understood : 



"The site is generally amongst the stems of aquatic plants, 

 where the water always flows but not too swiftly. He first 

 begins by carrying small bits of green material which he nips 

 off the stalks and tugs from out the bottom and sides of the 

 bank; these he attaches by some glutinous material, that he 

 clearly has the power of secreting, to the different stems destined 

 as pillars for his building. During this operation he swims 

 against the work already done, splashes about, and seems 

 to test its durability and strength; rubs himself against the 

 tiny kind of platform, scrapes the slimy mucus from his sides 

 to mix with and act as mortar for his vegetable bricks. Then 

 he thrusts his nose into the sand at the bottom, and, bringing 

 a mouthful, scatters it over the foundation; this is repeated 

 until enough has been thrown on to weight the slender fabric 

 down and give it substance and stability. Then more twists, 

 turns, and splashings to test the firm adherence of all the 

 materials that are intended to constitute the foundation of 

 the house that has yet to be erected on it. The nest, or nursery, 

 when completed is a hollow, somewhat rounded, barrel-shaped 

 structure worked together much in the same way as the plat- 

 form fastened to the water-plants; the whole firmly glued 

 together by the viscous secretion scraped from off the body. 

 The inside is made as smooth as possible by a kind of plastering 

 system; the little architect continually goes in, then, turning 

 round and round, works the mucus from his body on to the 

 inner sides of the nest, where it hardens like tough varnish. 

 There are two apertures, smooth and symmetrical as the hole 

 leading into a wren's nest, and not unlike it. 



"All this laborious work is done entirely by the male fish, 

 and when completed he goes a-wooing. Watch him as he 

 swims towards a group of the fair sex enjoying themselves 

 amidst the water-plants arrayed in his best and brightest 

 livery, all smiles and amiability; steadily and in the most 

 approved style of stickleback love-making this young and 

 wealthy bachelor approaches the object of his affections, most 

 likely tells her all about his house and its comforts, hints 



