ON A NEST- BUILDING FISH. 107 



The whole process of fish nest-huilding, by, literally, the hundred, 

 can always be seen from April to July, iu the pouds about the 

 "Black Country." The simplest appliances will serve. There is nothing 

 difficult in setting about observing the method of it, either out of doors 

 or in your own homes. Take the train, say — to Bilstou — ask for the 

 Theatre in the Willenhall Road, and from the back of it strike into 

 any of the paths across the pit mounds, in a northerly direction, 

 towards Portobeilo. Before going a thousand yards you will come 

 upon several ponds of various sizes, almost any one of which will do 

 if you go the right way to work. 



There are, however, two or three near togetber, known as 

 Edwards's Pools, or " pewls," as the lads there call them, that are 

 very good. I mention these, being easily found by name, but there 

 are many others in the hollows off the main paths that are even 

 better for quiet observation. 



On coming to a pool saunter very slowly, casting your glance into 

 the water about two or three yards ahead of you, near the side, where 

 the water may be from six to twelve inches deep. A very little 

 practice will enable you to see a hsh of a brightish green colour, 

 quickly turn away from the shallow into deeper water, out of 

 sight as you approach. This is the male stickleback of our 

 ponds, and you may now know you have "spotted" a home or 

 nest, though, for the moment, you don't see it. Having marked the 

 place in your eye where the fish sank out of sight, advance slowly 

 directly opposite to the spot, and sit down on the bank about a yard 

 away from the water, and do not move. In a very short time — a few 

 minutes at the most — you will see my gentleman fish rise from the 

 deeps, end on towards you ; a " green-eyed monster of jealousy" of 

 most brilliantly metallic hues. This is the courtship dress with 

 which he has during the preceding few weeks clothed himself. What 

 change of food or chemistry of life must have gone on during 

 this period to deposit on his coat so rich a change of colour, beating 

 all Elkington's electro-work hollow or solid, is, I opine, yet a 

 niystery. 



You are now over the chosen spot where the hsh has made up his 

 miud to squat or pitch his tent. Continue to remain quite still aud he 

 ignores you, and resumes work according to the stage it has reached. 

 They begin to select a spot according to the warmth of the spring 

 weather, about April ; and by June one may be found settled in almost 

 every square yard along the shallows. 



You will first notice that he does not roam at large, but moves 

 about in a radius only of four cr five feet. If in the early stage, he 

 ■will be constantly returning with a piece of water-weed, an inch or so 

 long, in his mouth, like a bird with material to its nest, until the nest 

 is formed. When finished, it is about the size of half a walnut, only 

 much less convex, and is disguised by the water-weed and particles of 

 the soil placed about it. If the bottom of the pool is small gravel, ash. 



