GURNARDS. 
81 
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 any one to discover the nest, un- 
less he 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 
i 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 instant- 
ly devoured with the greatest voracity. 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 suppose is an indica- 
' tion that they are approaching to life. In making 
the nest, I observed that the fish used an un- 
common degree of force when conveying the 
material to its destination. When the fish was 
about an inch from the nest, it suddenly darted 
at the spot, and left the tiny fragment in its 
place ; after which it would be engaged for half a 
minute in adjusting it. The nest, when taken up, 
did not separate, but hung together, like a piece 
of wool The place chosen by these fishes 
for their nests is where the ground forms an 
inclined plane, and in about six inches of water 
.... I think they breed early in the month of 
August.” 
Another species of the same genus, the largest 
which is found on our shores, the Fifteen-spined 
Stickleback (G. spinachia), sometimes called the 
