. The story of hedgerow and pond . Pond Life small orlobes. The fact is that life belowwater is much the same as that whichgoes on in the hedgerow, the fields, andthe forest. One half of the animals aredoing their best to eat up the other half,and a globe of pond animals is somethinglike a cage into which are introducedtigers and deer, or cats and mice. The early part of the year is the besttime to start, because then they areseen at greater advantage. You canwatch the male stickleback graduallyputting on his wedding-dress. In wildnature, you see, these things are some-what reversed ; it isnt
. The story of hedgerow and pond . Pond Life small orlobes. The fact is that life belowwater is much the same as that whichgoes on in the hedgerow, the fields, andthe forest. One half of the animals aredoing their best to eat up the other half,and a globe of pond animals is somethinglike a cage into which are introducedtigers and deer, or cats and mice. The early part of the year is the besttime to start, because then they areseen at greater advantage. You canwatch the male stickleback graduallyputting on his wedding-dress. In wildnature, you see, these things are some-what reversed ; it isnt the bride whichwears wedding finery, but the think he makes the nest too ; andafter the eggs are laid, he guards it mostcourageously, darting out after every-thing which comes near. And, as he is90. Pond Life well provided with sharp prickles, whichstick out on his back and gill covers, heis not to be despised as an enemy,in spite of his small size. He is nowparticularly brilliant in colour ; his eyesare blue, his stomach bright red, and hisback a brilliant glossy green. And heis perfectly brimful of nervous energy,excitement, and pugnacity. So, likemost pugnacious, energetic things, hegets his own way as a rule, and neigh-bours who are anything like his ownsize give him a wide berth at this seasonof the year. Of course, a duck wouldgobble up his nest as soon as not—soonerthan not, in fact. But even a duck, ifit were wise, would think twice beforeit swallowed Mr. Stickleback. It mightswallow him down all right without anyaccident, but if one of those spines on91 Pond Life each side got stuck in its throat it wouldbe uncomfortable, if not birds have lost their lives in thisvery same way—kingfishers especially ;and other fish sometimes have cause torepent having
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectwat
