96 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



many times before being deemed fit for use. The 

 fish selects a site in his territory, generally in the 

 open, and carries to it numerous fibres and roots. 

 These are arranged in a rough platform on the 

 mud, generally weighted with small stones at the 

 edges, as though the better to withstand the force 

 of any current in the water. Many of the threads 

 are thrust into the mud, and gradually a compact 

 mass or nest is formed, the fibres of which are so 

 densely interwoven that they will not separate 

 even if it be disturbed with a stick, or lifted bodily 

 by hand. 



In the centre of the nest is a circular opening, 

 and the fish is never tired of trying to improve 

 this or to render it more firm. Indeed, he is 

 wonderfully painstaking with every part of the 

 nest, not only when first it is constructed, but 

 during the whole time that it is occupied by the 

 eggs. With the like carefulness he removes from 

 the vicinity any water insects. Caddis grubs are 

 lifted bodily in their cases and dropped at a safe 

 distance ; water-snails are bitten and induced to 

 change their direction of travel ; and even the 

 newt is similarly attacked and driven off, But 



