No. 144.] 321 



to bring sand in his mouth and put it on the grass, &c., to keep 

 them in their places. He then rubbed his belly all over the 

 grasses, and with mucus from his body made them stick together 

 Thus he made the first layer a solid floor on which to build his 

 edifice, which he proceeded to do with great perseverance and 

 even feverish agitation. In order to satisfy himself that his 

 building was sufiiciently united, he used his pectoral fins rapidly 

 in making currents of water against their works, to try them, 

 and if a bit gives way, they fix it and glue it over again. All 

 this being done they proceed to employ more solid materials. 

 They get roots and straw, which they carry in their mouths, to 

 add to the first structure. They take a piece, try to insert it ; if 

 it does not suit, they pull it out and insert the other end. and 

 make the best possible use of it. Sometimes, in spite of all their 

 pains taking, some piece will not suit on account of its figure ; 

 they pull it out and carry it some distance from the nest and 

 throw it away, then go choose a better one. Thus they finish a 

 solid hollow bed, well secured by that viscous (sticky) slime 

 which they employ for that purpose. But the stems, roots, and 

 straws which they select to roof over the bed are always fixed in 

 one direction, that is, lengthwise, so that the ends will extend 

 from one entrance to the nest to the other. After fixing this 

 roof, they proceed to treat it as they did the bottom or carpet. 

 They labor incessantly to finish it perfectly by glueing all its 

 parts, taking particular care to have the two doors in perfect 

 order. When the female is laying her eggs in this domicil, he 

 often puts his head and shoulders in to watch and protect her 

 and the eggs. The circular border of the door is built with the 

 greatest care and regularity ; not the slightest bit of grass or other 

 thing obstructs the passage through it. It may be said to be cir- 

 cumscribed wath a velvet glacis. This nest is about four inches 

 in diameter, and appears on the bottom of the basin as a small 

 swell or rise. They are as ably made as swallows' nests. These 

 Sticklebacks show as much skill as many birds in making their 

 nests. When the Stickleback's nest is finished to receive the 

 eggs, the male, lull of agitation, goes among the females, and 

 tries to call the attention of some female who is disposed to lay 

 [Assembly No. 144. 1 U 



