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CHAPTER XIX. 
SUB- AQUATIC NESTS. 
VERTEBRATES. 
Fishes as architects — The Sticklebacks and their general habits — The 
Fresh-Water Sticklebacks — A jealous proprietor — Punishment of tres- 
passers — Form and materials of the nest — Use of the nest — Cannibalistic 
propensities — The Fifteen-Spined Stickleback, and its form — Its curious 
nest — Mr. Couch’s description of a nest in a rope’s end. 
As a rule, Fishes display but little architectural genius, their 
anatomical construction debarring them from raising any but 
the simplest edifice. A fish has but one tool, its mouth, and 
even this instrument is of very limited capacity. Still, although 
the nest which a fish can make is necessarily of a slight and 
rude character, there are some members of that class which 
construct homes which deserve the name. 
The best instances of architecture among the Fishes are 
those which are produced by the Sticklebacks (Gas ter os tens), 
those well-known little beings whose spiny bodies, brilliant 
colours, and dashing courage make them such favourites with 
all who study nature. There are several species of British 
Sticklebacks, but as the fresh-water species all make their nests 
in a very similar manner, there will be no need of describing 
each species separately. 
These fishes make their nests of the delicate vegetation that 
is found in fresh water, and will carry materials from some 
little distance in order to complete the home. They do not, 
however, range to any great extent, because they would intrude 
upon the preserve of some other fish,' and be ruthlessly driven 
away. 
When the male Stickleback has fixed upon a spot for his 
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