The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-16

Some time ago the fish began to collect the ma
terial and place it upon the bottom, but as soon
as put the string in the water hanging from
the cork, it took possession of that, and by con-
tinued additions of small bits of thread the nest
soon assumed the proportions you see here. The
buttngl Well, that is the door making opera
ton. These bits of thread are wound in and out
and every in a while the fish rushes head
on to the mass endeavoring to keep an opening
in the interior, where the eggs to be deposit
ed. So a series of butts are kept up until the
hole extends entirely through"
'How is it held together! Well, the threads
are more or less interwound, but when you OBJ
served the fish pressing the belly against the
nest it was binding the mass round about with
invisible cords of glutnous secretion taken
from gland that seems provided by nature for
the purpose. These are almost invisible to the
naked eye have dissected the gland, how
ever, and drawn the mucous from it, a clear,
colorless fluid that assumes a white thread line
consistency when exposed to the water Several
other fishes have the same provision, When
the nest of the stickleback is completed, the
male. who has been doing all the work of nest
building, goes off in search of a female, and
drives her into the nest where the eggs are to be
deposited after which she is driven away the
male taking his place in the hole over them,
and remaining on guard until the
eggs are Matched and the young are
able to take care of themselves. This
guardianship is quite necessary, as other
fishes prey upon the eggs, and they need AGRA
ton. This is done by the male, who, lowering
above them, keeps up a continuous current of
water over them. and more careful or watch
full patrol it would be difficult to find. For
aquarium purposes or for young folks especially.
the stickleback is famous fellow, and one of
the easiest kept, as well as one of the most in
tellgent of the fishes"
is this the only fish that is a nest builderl"
the visitor asked
by no MEANS" was the reply. IA great
many fishes are nest builders, and all of them
remind us of the birds. For example, take the
paradise fish of the genus Macropas They are
the birds of paradise of the sea, and of most
beautiful shape. The tail forms an enormous
fan, almost twice as wide as the body proper.
The dorsal and ventral fins are also
both joined to it and enlarged their
points streaming behind just as do the long,
delicate streamers of the Bird of Paradise, and,
as with them, it is the male that has the most
gorgeous decorations The general color is a
rich brown, changing into grayish green on the
under sides, which is crossed and barred by
stripes of changeable yellow, green, blue and
red. They are found in Chinese and Eastern
waters, and there are kept in captivity as is the
goldfish, that was also introduced from China.
These fishes are easily tanned, and can be taken
out of the water and placed on the ground for
twenty minutes without injuring them in the
slightest degree. In their habits they are like
the birds of the same name. When a worm is
tossed to them it is often taken and wiped on
the sides of the dish or against the plants of the
aquarium-in fact, cleaned of dirt before it is
eaten.