332 Mr. R. Warington on the Habits of the Stickleback. 



their utmost eodeavours, continuously, to pounce upon the nest 

 and snap them up. The courage of this Httle creature was cer- 

 taiul}' now put to its severest test, but nothing daunted he drove 

 them all off, seizing their fins, and striking with all his strength 

 at their heads and at their eyes most furiously. All the assist- 

 ance that could possibly be afforded him was of course rendered, 

 short of actual interference, by keeping them pretty well fed, in 

 order to allay, if possible, their voracity. Another circumstance, 

 which apjjeared to add greatly to the excitement that he was 

 constantly subjected to, arose from the second female fish, 

 being in spawn, endeavouring most pertinaciously to deposit her 

 ova in the same locality, and hence rushing frequently down 

 towards the spot ; but the male fish was ever on the alert, and 

 although he did not strike at her in the furious way he attacked 

 the larger ones, yet, he kept continually under her, with the 

 formidable back spines all raised erect, so that it was impossible 

 for her to effect her apparent object. 



The care of the young brood, while encumbered with the 

 yelk, was very extraordinary, and as this was gradually absorbed 

 and they gained strength, their attempts to swim carried them to 

 a greater distance from the parent fish ; his vigilance, however, 

 seemed everywhere, and if they rose by the action of their fins 

 above a certain height from the shingle bottom, or flitted beyond 

 a certain distance from the nest, they were immediately seized 

 in his mouth, brought back, and gently puffed or jetted into 

 their place again. This was constantly occurring, the other fish 

 being continually on the watch to devour these stragglers, and 

 make a savoury morsel of these Lilliputian truants. Indeed, the 

 greater number of the whole brood must have fallen a prey to 

 their voracity, as it was only some three or four that reached a 

 size to place them beyond the power of these destroyers. 



As soon as the young fry could swim strongly the parent fish 

 gradually relinquished his duties, although a constant watch 

 appeared to be still quietly maintained on their motions as they 

 swam about near the surface of the water and among the float- 

 ing leaves of the Vallisneria and Leinna. It is a curious circum- 

 stance, that, very soon after these young Stickleback were left 

 unmolested by their companions, both the parent fish disap- 

 peared, and I presume have died in some hiding-])lace among 

 the rock-work ; as though, their allotted functions, namely the 

 propagation of their species, having been completed, their period 

 of existence must terminate. 



Apothecaries' Hall, Sept. 11, 1S55. 



