124 EISH HAKVESTING. 



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 nur- 

 sery, when completed, is a hollow, somewhat 

 rounded, barrel-shaped structure, worked together 

 much in the same way as the platform 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 a 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 bright- 

 est livery, all smiles and amiability: steadily, 

 and in the most approved style of stickleback 

 love-making, this young and wealthy bachelor 



