STICKLEBACKS, FLUTEMOUTHS, TRUMPET FISH 2775 



of the formidable spines on the back, with which they have been seen to rip open 

 the body of an antagonist. The most interesting trait in the economy of stickle- 

 backs, is, however, undoubtedly the nest-building habit of many of the species. In the 

 sea stickleback the nest is composed of a mass of pendent seaweeds, bound together 

 by a silk-like thread into a pear-shaped form, in the centre of which are deposited the 

 eggs. Such a nest has been known to be guarded for a period of upward of three 

 weeks by the male parent fish; and when it sustained any damage, by which the 

 eggs were exposed to view, the watchful guardian set about repairing the mischief 

 with the greatest dispatch and energy, thrusting its nose deep into the structure, and 

 pushing and pulling the materials till all was once more sound. The following ac- 



GROUP OF STICKLEBACKS. 



(Natural size.) 



Sea stickleback (upper figure); Nine-spined stickleback (middle figure); and Three-spined stickleback (lower 



figure). 



count of the nesting of the three-spined stickleback in an aquarium was forwarded 

 by a correspondent to Frank Buckland. On this occasion the male " selected a spot 

 nearly in the centre of the trough, and busily set to work to make a collection of 

 delicate fibrous materials, placed on the ground, and matted into an irregularly circu- 

 lar mass, somewhat depressed, and upward of an inch in diameter, the top being 

 covered with similar materials, and having in the centre a rather large hole. His 

 work was commenced at noonday, and was completed, and the eggs deposited by 

 half-past six in the afternoon. Nothing could exceed the attention from this time 



