STICKLEBACK NESTS IN THE WANDLE. 247 



and protect it. In the middle of May I observed a 

 stickleback evidently guarding a circle of about 2 in. 

 in diameter, and chasing away every other fish which 

 came within his domain. On closer examination, I saw 

 at the bottom of the water a small circular place about 

 2 in. in diameter made of fibre, bat arranged level with 

 the bottom of the stream. Suspecting a nest, I carefully 

 raised this material, when it proved to contain two 

 parcels of eggs, which were about the size of a large 

 pin's head. I immediately replaced the material as well 

 as I could in its former place, but Mr. Stickleback was 

 not at all satisfied with my arrangement, and set to work 

 diligently to adjust it himself. He brought little bits of 

 fibre and thrust them into the mass, and re-arranged 

 the larger fibres. One parcel of eggs protruded ; these 

 he dragged away and began to devour ; but I took 

 possession of this mass and placed them in a jar with 

 water-plants, where they soon after hatched into beauti- 

 ful little fish. However, the stickleback continued his 

 work at the nest : sometimes he would bring a piece of 

 fibre in his mouth, and with violence thrust it into the 

 mass ; then at other times he would drag his body witli 

 all his strength over the mass to smooth it down. 

 When he was perfectly satisfied with what he had done, 

 he mounted guard and rushed at any other fish which 

 came near him. 



'' Afterward, I found these nests by scores, each pro- 

 tected by its guardian stickleback ; and in the month 

 of May I can always delight my visitors by showing 

 them a nest presided over by the pugnacious little 

 fish." 



A large number of sticklebacks are caught in the 

 deeper portions of the Eiver Thames by men engaged 

 in fishing for whitebait. When caught with the white- 



