352 CONCLUSION. 



her forward by equally expressive signs. Soon, like 

 a dutiful little pet, she enters, and having deposited 

 spawn, retires again, leaving her lord and master to 

 guard the casket and its living treasure. This task, 

 though extremely arduous, he adopts with pride and 

 gratification. 



How so small a creature can bear up so long under 

 such a state of apparent excitement appears marvel- 

 lous. His assiduity is most extraordinary. By night 

 he rests beside the nest, and by day, if he can 

 possibly hinder it, he allows nothing to approach. 

 When there are other members of the Stickleback 

 family in the aquarium, numerous combats are sure 

 to ensue, for as the young and transparent offspring 

 of one fish are deemed a great dainty by the non- 

 parental body, the latter invariably endeavour to 

 satisfy their cannibal propensities at the harrowing 

 expense of their neighbours. 



When the spawn are hatched, fresh care devolves 

 upon the parent, in order to keep them within the 

 nursery, and protect them from the greedy mouths of 

 the larger fish, always on the look-out for tit-bits. 

 Should one of the little fishlings stray beyond the 

 prescribed bounds, the watchful parent darts after it, 

 and in an instant his jaws close over the wanderer 

 apparently for ever, but in fact only for a time, for 

 swimming quickly back the old fish puffs out the 

 straggler into its nest lively and uninjured. 



