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CHAPTER XIX. 



SUB-AQUATIC NESTS. 



VERTEBRATES. 



Fishes as architects — The Sticklebacks and their general habits — Ihe 

 Fresh- Water Sticklebacks— A jealous proprietor— Punishment of tres- 

 passers — Form and materials of the nest — Use of the nest — Cannibalistic 

 propensities — The Fifteen-Spined Stickleback, and its form — Its curious 

 nest — Mr. Couch's description of a nest in a rope's end. 



As a rule, Fishes display but little architectural genius, their 

 anatomical construction debarring them from raising any but 

 the simplest edifice. A fish has but one tool, its mouth, and 

 even this instrument is of very limited capacity. Still, although 

 the nest which a fish can make is necessarily of a slight and 

 rude character, there are some members of that class which 

 construct homes which deserve the name. 



The best instances of architecture among the Fishes are 

 those which are produced by the Sticklebacks (Gasferosteus)^ 

 those well-known little beings whose spiny bodies, brilliant 

 colours, and dashing courage make them such favourites with 

 all who study nature. There are several species of British 

 Sticklebacks, but as the fresh-water species all make their nests 

 in a very similar manner, there will be no need of describing 

 each species separately. 



These fishes make their nests of the delicate vegetation that 

 is found in fresh water, and will carry materials from some 

 little distance in order to complete the home. They do not, 

 however, range to any great extent, because they would intrude 

 upon the preserve of some other fish, and be ruthlessly driven 

 away. 



When the male Stickleback has fixed upon a spot for his 



Q 



