ON THE NESTS OF THE FIFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 201 



tionally large and developed. Masses of eggs, in different stages of 

 their evolution, are met with, in the same nest. It is evident that the 

 fish must first deposit its spawn amid the growing fucus, and afterwards 

 gather its branches together around the eggs, weaving and incorpor- 

 ating at the same time all the rubbish that is lying or floating around 

 the nucleus. 



For the safety of its nest and spawn, the fish is apparently very 

 anxious for a time. Some individuals were watched, by Mr Duncan 

 and the Rev. Mr TurnbuU, for some weeks, and it was observed that 

 the same fish was always in attendance upon its own nest. During 

 the time of hope and expectation, they become fearless, and will allow 

 themselves to be taken up by the hand repeatedly. There can be no 

 doubt that their object in remaining near the nest is to guard it 

 against the attacks of such animals as might feel inclined to prey upon 

 its contents. 



Note. — Since the preceding notice was read to the Club, the 2d 

 volume of Mr Swainson's Natural History of Fishes, &c. has been 

 published : and I find that in it these nests are said to be constructed 

 by the Gobies, on the authority of Olivi. The question is worth further 

 inquiry ; but on mentioning this statement of Olivi's to Mr Maclaurin 

 of Coldingham, he assured me that he had seen and watched the 

 stickleback in the act of making the nests we have just described, 



a. J. 



Note on Dr Douglas's paper on the Cessation of the Floio of the River 



Teviot. 



The drying up of the northern rivers in 1748, is similarly accounted 

 for in the Gentleman's Magazine for April, p. 152, by a correspondent 

 at Carlisle. He says, " although the snows of February were heaped 

 on the mountains, by strong winds, intensely cold, yet there was a 

 groimd thaw in the plains. This constant drift of snow on the 

 mountains, and intense cold of the air, consolidated the flakes in their 

 descent " (meaning, I suppose, as they floated down on the surface of 

 the water), " and a long succession of these congealed every standing 

 pool, or mill-dam in the channel, to the bottom. So that the inter- 

 mediate channel became dry. 



"The different courses of the freezing air, and the situation of the 

 mountains, with respect to the several rivers, were the cause why this 

 circumstance did not happen to all on the same day. And that several 

 adjoining rivers did not freeze must be attributed to their running 

 through a more level, and, therefore, a warmer country ; and for the 

 same reason some parts of the Esk might have little ice, as it is not all 

 Burrounded by moujitains." T. B. 



