318 MR. HANCOCK ON THE NIDIFICATION OF 



guarding it ; it would examine the nest on all sides, and then 

 retire for a short time, but soon return to renew the examination. 

 On several occasions," continues this gentleman, " I laid the eggs 

 bare bj removing a portion of the nest, but when this was dis- 

 covered great exertions were instantantly made to recover them. 

 By the mouth of the fish, the edges of the opening were again 

 drawn together, and the other portions torn from their attach- 

 ments and brought over the orifice till the ova were again hid 

 from view. And as great force was sometimes necessary to effect 

 this, the fish would thrust its snout into the nest, as far as the 

 eyes, and then jerk backwards till the object was eiFected, While 

 thus engaged, it would saifer itself to be taken in the hand, but 

 repelled any attack made on the nest, and quitted not its post so 

 long as I remained." 



Mr. Richard Howse, who found three or four of these nests in 

 a pool among the rocks at Tynemouth, a year or two ago, informs 

 me that each was attended by a fish, and that they scarcely ever 

 left their nets, but kept hovering about, attentivel}' examining 

 them, and thrusting their projecting muzzles amidst the seaweeds 

 of which they were composed ; the fish would occasionally poise 

 themselves close to the nests, and fan them with the pectoral fins 

 in the same manner as the Three-spined species. And, indeed, 

 it is quite evident, from the accounts given by these two gentle- 

 men, that the habits of both species, in all that concerns nidifica- 

 tion, perfectly coincide ; both guard the nest with the same 

 unwearied perseverance, drive off enemies, make all necessary 

 repairs, fan or ventilate the nest, and keep it in all respects in 

 good order. 



It is satisfactory to observe this exact similarity of habits, for 

 Mr. Couch has changed his opinion, apparently upon insufficient 

 grounds, respecting the nest, which he attributed to the Fifteen- 

 spined Stickleback. He now considers it to belong to the com- 

 mon Shanny {Blennius pliolis), arriving at this conclusion after 

 having examined the young hatched from ova taken out of one 

 of the nests. " Being from the first," says this gentleman, 

 " impressed with the conviction that they were the young of the 

 Fifteen-spined Stickleback, I was much surprised to notice the 



