66 The End of Odd Fishes. 
stand clear of the watchful mother; she never goes far 
from the nest, and is ready at any moment to do battle 
with friend or foe, if either dares approach her sacred 
charge. 
_ Sir R. Schomburgk tells us that these fish ascend the 
trenches intersecting the sugar estates in spawning season, 
where they are easily taken in baskets placed near the . 
nests. The male fish also aids in protecting the young. 
The nests are easily discoverable, as above each, a little 
patch of froth invariable accumulates on the water. The 
parent fishes, however, often fall victims to darkey cunning, 
from the fearless fury they display if their nests are inter- 
fered with. The negro places both his hands under water, 
and gradually brings them towards the nests ; the enraged 
fish dashes at the hands, but only to find itself deftly 
clutched in a living trap, from which it seldom escapes. 
Another singular instance of a nest-building fish is found 
in one of the Zalyrinthici, known as the Gourami (Osphro- 
menus olfax) of ichthyologists. In the “ Zoological Journal ” 
(iv. p. 309), we find a very interesting account of this fish 
from the pen of General Hardwicke, who paid particular 
attention to their habits during his residence in the Isle de 
France. Where water-grass grows thickly and spreads its 
green flag-like leaves over the still water of either pool or 
tank, there the Gourami, at its breeding season, is sure to 
be met with. These grass culms the fish manage to en- 
tangle and twist together, to form a kind of verandah, 
under which their all-important domestic duties may be 
carried on safe from prying eyes. The roe deposited, both 
male and female hover round their treasure, and fight 
furiously with any prowler that from design or chance 
ventures near. After some time, usually about a month, 
the young fish emerge from the eggs, and as a hen guards 
her chickens, in like manner the Gourami keeps untiring 
watch and ward over her baby-brood until they are old 
enough, and able to shift for themselves. 
I could adduce numerous instances of other nest-building 
fishes. The little sticklebacks, known to every schoolboy, 
are familiar examples; but as the habits and systems of 
stickleback nest-building were able recorded and illustrated 
in a previous number of “Science Gossip,” anything I 
could say would be but useless repetition. 
To the angler, who is only an angler as a sportsman, and 
all honour to him too, but who does not care to be a 
naturalist as well, a fish is only a fish, against the cunning 
