FAMILY " WITH HARD CHEEKS." 83 



builder seeks out a mate, and couducting her with many 

 caresses to the nest, introduces her into the nuptial cham- 

 ber. In a few minutes she has laid two or tliree eggs, after 

 which she bores a hole on the opposite side of the nest to 

 that by which she entered, and makes her escape. The 

 nest has now two doors, and the eggs are exposed to the 

 cool stream of water, which entering by one door flows out 

 at the other. On the following day the male goes again 

 in quest of a female, and brings back sometimes the same, 

 sometimes a new mate, and this is repeated until the nest 

 contains a considerable number of eggs. Next the male 

 watches a whole m.onth over his treasure, defending it 

 stoutly against all invaders, and especially against his 

 wives, who have a feminine curiosity to look at the eggs. 

 When the young are hatched and able to do for themselves, 

 the anxieties and active vigilance of the male cease. 



Before this time, however, arrives, his duties are of a 

 most onerous character, as may be gathered from an in- 

 stance which fell under the notice of Mr. Warington. The 

 male guardian moved continually across the clear space 

 in every direction ; and his vigilance was greatly taxed, 

 for other fish in the tank larger than himself used their 

 utmost endeavours to snap up the young brood. The 

 little creature, however, drove them all off, seizing their 

 fins and striking furiously at their heads and eyes. He 

 also defeated the attempts made by a strange female to 

 deposit her eggs in the same place. As the young fry 

 gained size and strength they were inclined to stray, but 



