KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
REVIEW, 
Tae NATuRALIstT, No. 381. 
& Sons. 
Our much-esteemed contemporary again 
comes forth with a goodly array of pleasing 
facts in Natural History. 
We have a very interesting article, by 
James Davies, Esq., on the peculiarly-formed 
Femur of a Fox ; Letters of an Ornithologist ; 
a Paper on British Evergreens, by our old 
friend J. M‘Intosh, Esq.; Gleanings by the 
Way, &c., &c., in addition to the usual 
Varieties and Miscellanies. 
From this mass of delightful reading, we 
have been trying to pick and choose some fair 
specimen. Our election has fallen on a racy 
paper, detailing some pretty facts in con- 
nection with our oldest friend THE STICKLE- 
BACK, of whom, in a former number, we dis- 
coursed at considerable length. This is 
contributed by Mr. Clement Jackson, of 
East Looe; and shows the doings of our 
hero when confined to a very small space of 
water. The Stickleback (Gasterosteus Acu- 
leatus) is not to be spoken of disrespectfully. 
He is a pattern for all the finny tribe. But 
let us listen to his exploits :— 
On the 12th of April, a fish glass, of seven 
inches diameter and depth, was furnished with 
some gravelly mud, and filled nearly to the top 
with spring water. A plant of Water Starwort 
(Callitriche verna), was fixed by placing a couple 
of spar-stones on the roots to steady it, whilst the 
leaves floated on the surface, and a number of 
Water Snails (Limnea stagnalis, and Ancylus 
fluviatilis), were added to devour decayed leaves, 
&c., and keep the water clear. 
The muddy particles having subsided, and left 
the water very clear, half-a-dozen Sticklebacks 
were introduced about the 18th; and a male im- 
mediately took possession, attacking and driving 
the others sharply about. These were taken out 
successively as attacked, until only one, a large 
female, to which he did not exhibit much ani- 
mosity, remained ; and in the course of an hour 
or two afterwards I saw him carrying a long 
fibre in his mouth, and actively commence build- 
ing with such scanty materials as the place 
afforded. Having liberally supplied him with 
skeleton leaves, fibrous roots, &c., he took them 
readily as soon as dropped into the water; seizing 
a fibre, blowing it out of his mouth, and atten- 
tively watching its fall to test its gravity and fitness 
for his work ; if heavy enough, it was immedi- 
ately recovered, and added to the building against 
the stone at the bottom ; if too light, it was re- 
jected, and another tried; he every now and then 
adding a stone to secure the frail fabric, and oc- 
casionally blowing a mouthful of gravelly mud 
over it, boring vigorously into the accumulating 
mass with his head to form the nest, and keep the 
opening clear. 
This first nest did not prove satisfactory ; for a 
few days afterwards he commenced an active 
removal, carrying all his materials to the other 
Groombridge 


side of the stone, where he soon completed a new 
one, apparently to the satisfaction of both, as he 
brought down the female (who had nothing to do 
with the work, but had remained quietly at the 
surface, resting amongst the branches), apparently 
to show that the structure was complete, and ready 
for use. 
She spawned on the 24th, then lay listlessly 
at the bottom amongst the roots, and in a few 
days died—either from injuries in capture or from 
being worried by her pugnacious partner, whom I 
latterly observed driving her smartly about. 
Having now undisputed possession of the glass, 
he mounted guard, hovering above the nest, and 
often drew his body slowly over and in contact 
with it; every now and then, at short intervals, 
placing himself directly in a line with the hole, he 
rapidly vibrated the fins and tail, apparently to 
pass a current of water through it; and did an 
unfortunate snail at any time trespass upon it, he 
immediately pounced upon and threw it aside. 
He merely quitted his post to feed, eagerly taking 
small portions of earthworms from the finger, and 
when satisfied, blowing the last portion from his 
mouth and catching it again, as if in play; but 
anything applied to the outside of the glass raised 
his choler and spines in a moment. 
Commiserating his solitary condition, I one day 
put in three more, by way of company; but he 
had no idea of such intrusion, and having a home 
to defend, showed a most determined spirit, 
presently putting the late quiet little pond into a 
complete turmoil—rushing immediately on these 
unfortunate intruders on his domain, he chased 
them rapidly round the glass, biting fiercely at 
their tails, and, despite all their endeavors to 
hide amongst the plant, or in the mud, &c., at the 
bottom, they were speedily turned out, worried 
rapidly and repeatedly round, and would doubt- 
less have been killed, if I had not quickly re- 
moved them with a silver tablespoon, which was 
also viciously attacked by this irritated and de- 
termined defender of his invaded rights. On 
placing the bottle with the removed fish against 
the glass, he immediately rushed at them; and I 
observed his formidable lateral spines repeatedly 
projected. Of course after this exhibition of his 
pugnacity, he was left to manage things his own 
way, and continued assiduously to attend the nest, 
frequently and rapidly vibrating before it ; and on 
the 16th of May, the young fry were first observed 
swimming thickly about the nest, so small and 
transparent as easily to be overlooked. For the, 
first few days he guarded them jealously, driving 
back stragglers to the nest; and occasionally 
seizing one, perhaps more obstreperous than his 
fellows, in his mouth, he took it back, and blew 
it out amongst the others—every now and then 
swimming round the glass, as if to ascertain that 
all was safe. The young, about fifty in number, 
gradually ascended, and in a few days scattered 
about at the surface and amongst the plant with- 
out interference. 
On the 20th of May, the water, which had not 
been meddled with, except to fill up the loss- 
caused by evaporation, and had remained quite 
clear, became all at once so clouded, and with a 
greasy scum on the surface, that the fish were 
barely discernible; and fearing I should lose 
them, about a quart was dipped out, and refilled 

