162 THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 
out solitary places in which to hide during the 
two years that must pass before they become 
mature, and are ready to look for a mate. 
Even more interesting in its habits is the 
common three-spined stickleback, and, in its 
case also, it is the father, not the mother, that 
shows parental care. The male stickleback 
constructs a barrel-shaped nest of parts of 
water-weeds, glued together with a sticky sub- 
stance from its own body. This nest is open at 
one end, and may be either on the ground or 
attached to water-plants. When it is ready, 
the stickleback goes off in search of a mate, 
and escorts her “with evident pleasure” to the 
nest. After depositing her eggs, the female 
fish makes her escape by the simple method of 
breaking a hole in the nest, usually at the side. 
Another and another female is brought till the 
nest is sufficiently full. Then the proud father 
sets himself to watch over the eggs, keeping 
them clean, and fiercely driving away all in- 
truders. When the young fry hatch out, his 
labours are by no means over; indeed, they are 
more arduous than ever, for he tries to keep his 
numerous children safely at home as long as 
possible, but as fast as he drives them in at the 
front door they wriggle out again at the back! 
