1 62 My Favourite Summer -Houses. 



stream, very often the soft roots of the willow, and he 

 works these round the stem of a bush or any pro- 

 tuberance he can find handy and firmly fixed enough. 

 This is the foundation of his house ; and in laying it, as 

 in after-operations, he is greatly helped by some kind 



STICKLEBACK'S NEST. 



of slime or gummy substance which he exudes from 

 his body; and hence, at first particularly, his odd 

 rubbings of his little body against the bits of fibre 

 which he brings, and against the little tree-stem or 

 protuberance. So he works till his house rises; but 

 before it is finished he has to fight for it. There are 



