50 
FINDING NATURE’S TREASURES 
“I think I would like to be Mrs. Sunfish," said Mary- 
lee. “How nice it would be if the men did all the work 
in the house !" 
“Mr. Sunfish doesn't look as if he had a hard job," said 
Uncle Jack. “See how he sweeps the little stones out of 
the nest with his tail. There is one so large he can't 
sweep it out. But he won't have it in the middle of the 
nest, for he wants only clean, white sand. Now watch 
him get the stone out." 
“He is picking it up in his mouth," exclaimed Fred. 
“Now he has carried it out to the edge of his nest, and 
dropped it. Is that the way he made that circle of stones 
around the edge of the nest?" 
“Yes, that is the way he took out all the larger ones," 
answered Uncle Jack. “I believe the nest is finished 
now." 
“There he goes to visit that other Sunfish," said Bess. 
“That is Mrs. Sunfish," continued Uncle Jack. “He 
is going to tell her the nest is ready, and to ask her to 
come and lay some eggs in it. She isn't as brightly col¬ 
ored as he is. You will find that mother birds never 
have as pretty colors as father birds. It is the same with 
fish. Watch his colors grow brighter when he stops in 
front of Mrs. Sunfish." 
“He looks like a rainbow," said Marylee. “See him 
spread out his ears. He wants her to see how pretty 
they are." 
“Those spots of color on the sides of his head are not 
