1 62 THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 



out solitary places in which to hide during the 

 two years that must pass before they become 

 mature, and are ready to look for a mate. 



Even more interesting in its habits is the 

 common three-spined stickleback, and, in its 

 case also, it is the father, not the mother, that 

 shows parental care. The male stickleback 

 constructs a barrel-shaped nest of parts of 

 water-weeds, glued together with a sticky sub- 

 stance from its own body. This nest is open at 

 one end, and may be either on the ground or 

 attached to water-plants. When it is ready, 

 the stickleback goes off in search of a mate, 

 and escorts her "with evident pleasure" to the 

 nest. After depositing her eggs, the female 

 fish makes her escape by the simple method of 

 breaking a hole in the nest, usually at the side. 

 Another and another female is brought till the 

 nest is sufficiently full. Then the proud father 

 sets himself to watch over the eggs, keeping 

 them clean, and fiercely driving away all in- 

 truders. When the young fry hatch out, his 

 labours are by no means over; indeed, they are 

 more arduous than ever, for he tries to keep his 

 numerous children safely at home as long as 

 possible, but as fast as he drives them in at the 

 front door they wriggle out again at the back! 



