FISHES' NESTS. 333 



* 



exhausting syringe. It is, however, like all in- 

 stances of natural mechanism, much more perfect 

 than any artificial apparatus can ever be. In this 

 particular instance we find the mouth serving not 

 only for the reception of food, but for a variety 

 of purposes, to any of which, if its form were 

 similar to that of other fishes, it could not be 

 applied, and for which, even if its shape were cir- 

 cular, it would be unfit if unaccompanied by an 

 apparatus for creating a vacuum, and by an im- 

 planted instinct adapted both to the structure 

 and to the wants of the animal. Can any con- 

 sideration more clearly evince the design of Divine 

 skill and benevolence ? 



Our readers are all, doubtless, acquainted with 

 those active little fishes called sticklebacks, from 

 their being armed on the back with spines. There 

 are several varieties of these, but they inhabit 

 fresh water, although some of the species are 

 found on the brackish water at the mouths of 

 our larger rivers. There is, however, one species 

 which is entirely a salt water fish, and is found in 

 a great variety of places on the coasts of Britain 

 and Ireland. It is the fifteen-spined stickleback, 

 and is sometimes called the sea-adder. It in- 

 habits places where there are rocks and stones 

 covered with seaweed, among which it takes 

 refuge when alarmed. The most interesting 

 circumstance regarding this little fish is its nest- 

 building instinct. The nest may often be disco- 

 vered during spring and summer in the rock-pools 

 between tide marks. The structure is about eight 



