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NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
ously fans the precious eggs with his fins, leaving 
only when obliged to drive away intruders, and 
forced to depend for a living on what food chance 
sends his way. But notwithstanding that he 
might well have tired of the job, when the babies 
presently appear, he mounts guard with solici¬ 
tous care. Every now and then he pokes his head 
in the window to make sure that all is right. As 
the youngsters come on, they get frisky and ad¬ 
venturous, as young things will, you know. But, 
if any of them ventures outside, they get sent 
back in a hurry. Father Stickleback knows only 
too well how many hungry mouths there are in 
waiting, and he does not intend that any of them 
shall be filled at the expense of his children. So 
the little Sticklebacks must content themselves as 
best they may until they have grown strong and 
brave like their sire. 
“ There are some dozen or so types of stickle¬ 
backs. The sea stickleback is the largest of the 
clan, often measuring a trifle over six inches. 
The nest of this species is not built on the sea¬ 
floor; that would usually be at a depth too great 
even for the courageous sticklebacks. Instead, 
it is always firmly attached to seaweed alongside 
some overhanging rock or bank. One species, 
the nine-spined stickleback, builds a nest much 
like the oriole’s pocket.” 
“We have in the bird world one family of ce- 
