214 NEST OF THE STICKLEBACK. 



equipped to the bank of the stream, a worm may be picked out of the ground, tied by the 

 middle to the thread, and thrown quite at random into the water. 



The Sticklebacks will not be in the least frightened by the splash, but rather rejoice in it 

 as calling their attention to food. In a moment the worm will be the centre of a contending 

 mass of little fishes, rolling over and over, struggling to the utmost of their power, and 

 entirely hiding the worm from sight. Now let the angler quickly lift the bait out of the 

 water, swing it on shore, and he will almost certainly find that he has captured two Stickle- 

 backs, one hanging to each end of the worm, and retaining its hold so perseveringly that 

 it can hardly be induced to relinquish its gripe. This process may be repeated at pleasure, 

 and as the Sticklebacks never seem to learn wisdom, a large store may soon be accumulated. 

 This is a good way of stocking an aquarium, as the strongest and liveliest fish are sure to be 

 caught first. 



I have caught them by hundreds in a common butterfly-net, by the simple stratagem of 

 lowering the net into the water, dangling the worm over the ring, and by degrees lowering the 

 worm and raising the net until I had the whole flock within the meshes. 



Should the reader be disposed to place his newly-captured specimens in an aquarium, he 

 must make up his mind that they will fight desperately at first, and until they have satisfac- 

 torily settled the championship of the tank, their intercourse will be of the most aggressive 

 character. Never were such creatures to fight as the Sticklebacks, for they will even go out 

 of their way to attack anything which they think may possibly offend them, and they have no 

 more hesitation in charging at a human being than at one of their own species. I have known 

 one of these belligerent fish make repeated dashes at my walking-stick, knocking his nose so 

 hard against his inanimate antagonist, that he inflicted a perceptible jar upon it, and in spite 

 of the blows which his nose must have suffered, returning to the combat time after time with 

 undiminished spirit. 



These combats are, however, most common about the breeding season, when every adult 

 Stickleback challenges every other of his own sex, and they do little but fight from morning 

 to evening. They are as jealous as they are courageous, and will not allow another fish to pass 

 within a certain distance of their home without darting out and offering battle. 



Any one may see these spirited little combats by quietly watching the inhabitants of a 

 clear streamlet on a summer day. The two antagonists dart at each other with spears in rest, 

 snap at each other's gills or head, and retain their grasp with the tenacity of a bull-dog. 

 They whirl round and round in the water, they drop, feint, attack, and retreat, with astonishing 

 quickness, until one confesses itself beaten, and makes off for shelter, the conqueror snapping 

 at its tail, and inflicting a parting bite. 



Then is the time to see the triumphant little creature in all the glory of his radiant 

 apparel; for with his conquest he assumes the victor's crown; his back glows with shining 

 green, his sides and head are glorious with gold and scarlet, and his belly is silvery-white. It 

 is a little creature certainly, but even among the brilliant inhabitants of the southern seas, a 

 more gorgeously colored fish can hardly be found. If the conqueror Stickleback could only 

 be enlarged to the size of a full-grown perch or roach, it would excite the greatest admiration. 

 It is curious, that the vanquished antagonist loses in brilliance as much as the conqueror has 

 gained; he sneaks off ignominiously after his defeat, and hides himself, dull and sombre, until 

 the time comes when he, too, may conquer in fight, and proudly wear the gold and scarlet 

 insignia of victory. 



These struggles are not only for mastery, but are in so far praiseworthy, that they are 

 waged in defence of home and family. 



The Stickleback is one of the very few fish who build houses for their young, as a 

 defence against the many foes which are ever lying in wait for the destruction of the eggs 

 or the newly-hatched young. These nests are built of various vegetable substances, and 

 their structure is admirably described in the following passage extracted from an educational 

 magazine: 



" In a large dock for shipping, thousands of Prickle-fish were bred some years ago, and I 

 have often amused myself for hours by observing them. While multitudes have been enjoying 



