Account of the Nest of Sticklebacks. 326 



the painful operation of laying, he enters by the same open- 

 ing that she followed, slides over the eggs with a rapid 

 motion, and issues almost immediately in order to repair the 

 disorders of his building. But the nest, whose construction 

 has cost him so much fatigue, is destined to receive the eggs 

 not of a single laying only ; it can contain a much larger 

 quantity. He therefore brings to it, at different times, and 

 for several days together, either the same female or such 

 others as consent to follow him. In general' he fecundates 

 the produce of each of these separately ; and at last his nest 

 becomes a rich magazine in which the ova of each particular 

 laying are agglomerated in distinct masses, and all these 

 together form a considerable mass. 



*' The male is the only guardian of this precious deposit, for 

 not only do the females take no care of it, but they become 

 its formidable enemies, forming part of those numerous coali- 

 tions which attempt to plunder it, and satisfy their voracious 

 appetite by devouring the ova. It therefore becomes a very 

 difficult task for him at once to defend them against these 

 famished pirates or gourmands, and to supply them for a 

 whole month with all the conditions favourable to their ex- 

 clusion. But no obstacle can divert him from his purpose, 

 nor daunt his courage. He first begins to strengthen his 

 nest by covering it with stones, the size of which is some- 

 times equal to the half of his body, and which we would not 

 believe him capable of transporting if we did not see him en- 

 gaged in the task. However he always reserves one or more 

 openings, which he enlarges as required, and through which 

 he is often occupied in passing currents by the rapid motion 

 of his pectoral fins. The use of these currents is probably 

 to prevent byssus forming on the eggs and preventing their 

 development, for these eggs all perish when not subjected 

 to this salutary influence. 



" While he is occupied in inducing the females to lay — in 

 taking care of the eggs — in strengthening his nest against 

 the attacks of the females — he drives away all the stickle- 

 backs which approach, strikes them with his snout, threatens 

 them with his spines, and as long as their numbers do not 



VOL. XLII. NO. LXXXIT. — APRIL 1847. Y 



