TIIREE-SFINED STICKLEBACK. 
169 
amiable and intense of their feelings are stirred into exercise, 
and a degree of ingenuity brought into action, which the 
world has agreed to deny the existence of among the inhabi- 
tants of the waters, but which observation has shewn to prevail 
especially in this small family, although perhaps it only requires 
more extended observation to prove its existence in other 
families also. 
The earliest notices that were given to the world on the 
care bestowed on their young by the family of Sticklebaclcs, 
were derived from a careful watching of the proceedings of 
another species, the Fifteen-spined Stickleback, (altogether an 
inhabitant of the sea,) to which reference will be made again. 
But the observations which follow were recorded independent 
of such as apply to the last-named fish; and, taken in connection 
with them, they claim perhaps an additional degree of interest 
from the fact that they were made by an observer of nature 
who was unacquainted with natural history as a science, and 
especially could not have been aware of what was then closely 
studied by others on a kindred species. The following is 
extracted from a periodical publication of the year 1834, 
entitled the “Youth’s Instructor.” 
“In a large dock for shipping on the River Thames, 
thousands of Pricklefish were bred some years ago, and I have 
often amused myself for hours by observing them. While multi- 
tudes have been enjoying themselves near the shore in the 
warm sunshine, others have been busily engaged making their 
nests, if a nest it may be called. It consisted of the very 
minutest pieces of straw or sticks, the exact colour of the 
ground at the bottom of the water, on which it was laid, so that 
it was next to an impossibility for anyone to discover the nest, 
unless they saw the fish at work, or observed the eggs. The 
nest is somewhat larger than a shilling, and has a top or cover, 
with a hole in the centre, about the size of a very small 
nut, in which are deposited the eggs or spawn. This opening 
is frequently concealed by drawing small fragments over it, 
but this is not always the case. Many times have I taken up 
the nest, and thrown the eggs to the multitude around, which 
they instantly devoured with the greatest voraeity. These eggs 
are about the size of poppy seeds, and of a bright yellow 
colour; but I have at times seen them almost black, which, I 
