(A)

Class of Fishes

We have now arrived at the great sub-kingdom of the Vertebrata & will commence with the lowest class: (A) namely Fishes Claspers — Chimæroid From their aquatic habits little hardly anything is known of about their courtship or rivalry & except in a few cases about the battles between the males. The male Stickle-back (Gasterosteus leiurus) adorned, as we shall presently see, with resplendent colours has been described as "mad with delight" when the female comes out of her hiding place, & surveyed surveys the nest which the male he has made for her. "He "darted round her in every direction, then to his "accumulated materials for the nest, then back again in an

[text excised] not advance to the nest,