McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-11-22

would dash into the nest and finally .
hole was formed, so that the nest as
you see it now-an oval about three
inches across, with hole through the
center. The material is mostly threads
that put in for the fish to use. Now
just scratch the little fellow"
Takinga large hand magnifier, the
stickleback was soon brought into
view, looking as large as q trout. He
was engaged in a desperate chase after
coquettish female that lodged here
and there in fruitless efforts to avoid
him, and in few moments she was
cornered near the nest and reluctantly
passed into the home prepared for her.
"That's the end of the courtship and
welded Bliss said the naturalist.
"The male prepares the house, drives
the female in, and when she has laid
the eggs takes her place until they are
Matched, and, indeed, until the young
fishes are able to attend to themselves.
The fish had already undertaken its
duties and was stationed over the newly
laid eggs, aerating them with his fins,
occasionally rushing out to attack the
intruder. ale will do this" said the
owner, ''until the fish are Matched and
able to take care of themselves; then
he will tear down the nest''
''Do all fishes have courtship?"
asked the reporter.
eyes, but they of course differ. The
courtship of the whales, which, how
ever, are not fishes, is grand specla-
Gle, the huge creatures showing their
devotion in hundred ways. Old bull
whales have often taken vessels for their
wives, and again for their rivals, and
dashed at Them
"Among the birds, however, love an
tics are the most laughable. Some time
ago l was watching some of the birds
In the geological garden, and you would
have thought they had gone mad. They
were marching up and down, one be-
fore another, raising their wings and
strutting around in regular dance.
Last season l saw in Florida the same
thing among wild herons, and at first
thought the birds were at play or gone
daft Where they were standing was q
mere strip of white sand about fifty feet
long, and from my place of conceal
ment l could see every movement. The
females stood together, demure and
quiet, taking no interest in the proceed
ings, while the males danced before them
pairs and trios, evidently endeavor-
ing to Guido the others, and when, ap-
parently exhausted by their efforts they
the waiting females and by
caresses with the bill tried to make
them make selection, curiously
enough the females seemed best
pleased with those that made the most
exertion and went through the per-
formance with the greatest agility.
When once captivated the happy pair
would hy away together, sometimes fol-
lowed by an angry rival, that, however,
would be driven back by the combined
efforts of both.
"In all the geological gardens where
these birds are kept you may see the
same performance, and perhaps the
most curious part OF it is not only pc
culiarity of cranes or herons during the
season or time of courtship, but it is
also true of tribe of South American
Indians. Before the swain is even ac-
cepted rs a lover he is obliged to go
through series of gymnastic perform
ances 20 test his physical fitness to I'M
dertake the responsibility of a married
man. Feats of leaping, running, lift
ing and contortion are required, the
over exactly initiating the heron before
le is accepted or refused, rs the case
may be- In all birds we see the same
~ell-regulated courtship, and generally
much resembling our own actions dur
ng that interesting period.