38 JEALOUSIES AMONG FISH. 



in number than the females, choose each for himself a 

 certain spot, where he reigns paramount. Here, with fibres 

 of grass and weeds, he constructs a tunnel-shaped nest, 

 leaving only an opening in the roof, for the admission of 

 himself and the females ; and to give this his seraglio 

 the greater stability, he strews the floor with grains of 

 sand, which he often brings from a distance in his mouth ; 

 and in order that the fibres composing the upper part of 

 the nest, may adhere the better together, he deposits secre- 

 tions from his own body. 



Desperate jealousies exist among the males ; and in the 

 guarding of these, their domestic sanctuaries, it requires but 

 the very slightest provocation on the part of one to set up 

 the back of his neighbour, and to bring on a regular combat. 

 On these occasions the belligerents dash at each other with 

 the rapidity of an arrow, making the while, with their sharp 

 lateral spines, a ferocious side-attack, which not unfrequently 

 proves fatal, after which, and with similar speed, they retreat 

 again to their own little fortress. 



Whilst the males are thus engaged in these knightly 

 exercises, the females, in larger or smaller numbers, make 

 excursions round and about the battle-field. One leads 

 the shoal ; she swims hastily forward, suddenly halts, and 

 places herself in a perpendicular position, with her head 

 downwards. The others having followed, collect about her, 

 and station themselves, closely packed, in a similar attitude. 

 When thus singularly congregated, she suddenly thrashes 

 the water, as fishermen say, with her tail a signal, it 

 would seem, for departure for in the twinkling of an eye 

 the whole company disperse; and this is repeated many 

 times. 



