xii MEMOIR OF THE LATE 



He certainly would not have succeeded in 

 breeding these owls if he had not known that 

 they make their nests in an excavation in the 

 earth. Knowing well the habits of the raven, he 

 supplied his birds with the suitable material and 

 conditions for nesting, and in consequence was 

 enabled to record the structure of the nest, and 

 many other interesting points in the habits of 

 these birds, which I regret to say are gradually 

 becoming very scarce in England. 



He extended his researches into the breeding of 

 fish. His description of the ten-spin ed stickleback 

 forming its nest is very accurate. " The situation 

 he (the fish) chose was on an irregularly shaped 

 pebble, which rested against the glass side of the 

 tank, enabling me to watch its movements closely. 

 He took great pains in his building, and interlaced 

 the various portions of the structure with great 

 care. 



" The young fish made their appearance in twelve 

 days, and were comparatively sluggish for the first 

 part of the time, remaining either upon or in the 

 immediate vicinity of the nest." 



A point to be noted in Mr. Austen's character 

 was his kind consideration for the lives and welfare 

 of the birds, beasts, and fishes which came under 

 his observation, whether in the wild state or in his 

 room as pets. Thus, when he discovered the nest 



