xvi. THORNIES AND TINKERS. 227 



ccilly) ; and eventually it was only, so it seemed, by chance 

 that he came upon the nest. To my surprise he then, 

 instead of rejoicing over the discovery, fell upon it and 

 tore it to pieces, with almost violent energy, and was not 

 satisfied until not a hair remained. It was as if he fancied 

 that he had stumbled upon a bit of some other fellow's 

 handiwork, and determined at once to demolish it without 

 asking or expecting permission. I do not say that it was 

 so ; but that is a human interpretation of his conduct. In 

 any case, he forthwith set to work and constructed a fresh 

 nest in quite a new place. 



He was by this time in glorious colour, bright red all 

 over the gills and along the ventral region, light creamy 

 pink or blue on the back, his eye a very sapphire for 

 brightness and purity of blue. Yet would not his mates 

 be coaxed to the nest. Dress as he might, and air his 

 finery as he would, they remained obdurate, insensate, 

 and unmoved. Then would he show his not unnatural 

 pique and annoyance by running at them from a distance 

 and giving them most ungallant digs in the ribs. This 

 is, however, it should be stated in extenuation of his 

 conduct, a recognized part of the mysteries of stickleback 

 courtship. I therefore removed the females, placing them 

 in a tank close by, so that the little gentleman could 

 show off his bright attire in one tank, while the ladies 

 gazed at him admiringly from the other, without danger 

 of being pestered by his too urgent attentions. 



After a while one of the females put on her wedding 

 finery, her sides becoming marked with bands of deeper 

 brown; and as she seemed anxious to join the merry 

 little monarch of the other tank, I transferred her thither. 

 He at once became much excited, and looked, if possible, 

 rosier and bluer-eyed than ever. He soon dashed off to 

 the nest to see that all was there in readiness, and passed 



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