1 62 THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 



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 substance 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 intruders. 

 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 ! 



