189 



ON THE NIDIFICATION OF 



THE COMMON STICKLEBACK, {GASTEROSTEUS AGULEATUS,) 



IN A VERY CONFINED SPACE OF WATER. 



BY MR. CLEMENT JACKSON. 



Having perused Mr. Warrington's account of the habits of the Stickleback 

 in confinement, detailed in the pages of the "Zoologist," with much interest, 

 I thought the following notice of a successful attempt to breed them in a 

 very confined space of water might prove acceptable to many readers of ''The 

 Naturalist," and, perhaps, induce some to turn their attention to this very 

 interesting branch of Natural History, so easily accessible to all since it is 

 ascertained that the introduction of plants and mollusks will keep the water 

 clear, and do away with the trouble and disturbance of frequent change; as 

 well as affording an opportunity of studying their curious habits and economy. 



On the 12th. of April, a Fish glass, of seven inches diameter and depth, 

 was furnished with some gravelly mud, and filled nearly to the top with 

 spring water, A plant of Water Starwort, (CallitricJie verna,) was fixed by 

 placing a couple of spar-stones on the roots to steady it, whilst the leaves 

 floated on the surface, and a number of Water Snails, (Limnea stagnalis,) 

 and Ancyliis fluviatilis,) added to devour decayed leaves, etc., and keep the 

 water clear. 



The muddy particles having subsided, and left the water very clear, half-a- 

 dozen Sticklebacks were introduced about the 18th., and a male immediately 

 took possession, attacking and driving the others sharply about. These were 

 taken out successively as attacked, until only one, a large female, to which 

 he did not exhibit much animosity, remained; and in the course of an hour 

 or two afterwards I saw him carrying a long fibre in his mouth, and actively 

 commence building with such scanty materials as the place afforded. Having 

 liberally supplied him with skeleton leaves, fibrous roots, etc., he took them 

 readily as soon as dropped into the water, seizing a fibre, blowing it out of 

 his mouth, and attentively watch its fall to test its gravity and fitness for 

 his work; if heavy enough it was immediately recovered, and added to the 

 building against the stone at the bottom; if too light it was rejected, and 

 another tried, every now and then adding a stone to secure the frail fabric, 

 and occasionally blowing a mouthful of gravelly mud over it, boring vigorously 

 into the accumulating mass with his head to form the nest, and keep the 

 opening clear. 



This first nest did not prove satisfactory, for a few days afterwards he 

 commenced an active removal, carrying all his materials to the other side 

 of the stone, where he soon completed a new one, apparently to the satis- 

 faction of both, as he brought down the female (who had nothing to do with 

 the work, but had remained quietly at the surface, resting amongst the 

 branches,) apparently to shew that the structure was complete, and ready 

 for use. 



