NATIVE FISHES 117 



figure indicates the under side of the fish, while the lowest shows 

 the Sole as it lies half concealed in the mud. In the aquarium these 

 fishes frequently fasten themselves flat to the sides of the glass by 









Fig. 117. The Sole (Young) 



suction. They may be gathered from the muddy flats of tidewater 

 streams of the Atlantic Coast. Chopped worms make a suitable 

 diet for them. Sizes such as pictured are good aquarium inhabitants. 



THE STICKLEBACK 



Apeltes qiiadracus 



Froebel, the writer of kindergarten fame, in telling the children of 

 the civilized world the life story of the Stickleback, has given great 

 prominence to the interesting little European Stickleback. The 

 interest centres chiefly in the breeding habits. Sticklebacks are nest- 

 builders. The male is architect, contractor and workman. He selects 

 a suitable location, and by tireless efliorts gathers together bits of 

 plants, refuse, etc., and makes them into the form of a ring with a roof 

 over it, leaving onl}' an opening for the female to enter to deposit her 

 eggs. The nest is glued together by a sticky substance exuded from 

 the body of the male fish, who assumes a bright red color in parts of 

 the fins at this period. After the female has deposited her eggs he 

 drives her away, looking after the nest and young himself until the_\- 

 are about 10 days old. He is very pugnacious at this time and will 



