GURNARDS. 83 



the thread is semi-fluid, but by exposure it 

 solidifies ; and hence contracts and binds the 

 substances forming the nest so closely together, 

 that it is able to withstand the violence of the 

 sea, and may be thrown carelessly about without 

 derangement. In the centre are deposited the 

 ova, very similar to the masses of frog-spawn in 

 ditches. . . . 



" It is not necessary to enter into minute par- 

 ticulars of the development of the young, any 

 further than to add that they were the subject of 

 observation till they became excluded from the 

 egg, and that they belonged to the Fifteen-spin ed 

 Stickleback {G aster osteus spinachia). Some of 

 these nests are formed in pools, and are, con- 

 sequently, always in water : others are frequently 

 to be found between tide-marks, in situations 

 where they hang dry. for several hours in the day ; 

 but whether in the water or liable to hang dry, 

 they are always carefully watched by the adult 

 animal : on one occasion, I repeatedly visited one 

 every day for three weeks, and invariably found 

 it guarded. The old fish would examine it on all 

 sides, and then retire for a short time, but soon 

 returned to renew the examination. On several 

 occasions I laid the eggs bare, by removing a 

 portion of the nest ; but when this was discovered, 

 great exertions were instantly made to re-cover 

 them. By the mouth of the fish the edges of the 

 opening were again drawn together, and other 

 portions torn from their attachments and brought 

 over the orifice, till the ova were again hid from 

 view : and as great force was sometimes necessary 

 to efiect this, the fish would thrust its snout into 

 the nest as far as the eyes, and then jerk back- 



