TIIKEE-SriNED STICKLEBACK. 169 



amiable and intense of their feelings arc stirred into exercise, 

 and a degree of ingenuity brought into action, which the 

 world has agreed to deny the existence of among the inhabi- 

 tants of the waters, but which observation has shewn to prevail 

 especially in this small family, although perhaps it only requires 

 more extended observation to prove its existence in other 

 families also. 



The earliest notices that were given to the world on the 

 care bestowed on thc>ir young by the family of Sticklebacks, 

 were dei'ived from a careful w^atching of the proceedings of 

 another species, the Fifteen-spined Stickleback, (altogether an 

 inhabitant of the sea,) to which reference will be made again. 

 But the observations whicli follow were recorded independent 

 of such as apply to the last-named fish; and, taken in connection 

 with them, they claim perhaps an additional degree of interest 

 from the fact that they were made by an observer of nature 

 who was unacquainted Avith natural history as a science, and 

 especially could not have been aware of what was then closely 

 studied by others on a kindred species. The following is 

 extracted from a periodical publication of the year 183-1, 

 entitled the "Youth's Instructor." 



"In a large dock for shipping on the River Thames, 

 thousands of Pricklefish were bred some years ago, and I have 

 often amused myself for hours by observing them. While niulti- 

 tudes have been enjoying themselves near the shore in the 

 warm sunshine, others have been busily engaged making their 

 nests, if a nest it may be called. It consisted of the very 

 minutest pieces of straw or sticks, the exact colour of the 

 ground at the bottom of the water, on which it was laid, so that 

 it was next to an impossibility for anyone to discover the nest, 

 unless they saw the fish at work, or observed the eggs. The 

 nest is somewhat larger than a shilling, and has a top or cover, 

 with a hole in the centre, about the size of a very small 

 nut, in Avhich are deposited the eggs or spawn. This opening 

 is frequently concealed by draAving small fragments over it, 

 but this is not always the case. jNIany times have I taken up 

 the nest, and thrown the eggs to the multitude around, Avhich 

 they instantly devoured with the greatest voracity. These eggs 

 are about the size of poppy seeds, and of a bright yellow 

 colour; but I have at times seen them almost black, which, I 



