244 STICKLEBACK MAKING ITS NEST. 



a little natural history. There are many species of 

 sticklebacks. 



The Three-spined, or Kough-tailed Stickleback [Gaste- 

 rosteus sjnmdosus), is one of the largest and most power- 

 ful of the family ; it ranges in size from 2in. to Sin. 



The stickleback is to be specially admired among 

 fishes, as being a nest-builder ; and I would advise my 

 readers to get some sticklebacks, and themselves observe 

 the process of nidification. They spawn in warm 



THKEE-SPIXED STICKLEBACK. 



weather, fi-om April to June. The following facts 

 occurred in 1857 under the notice of the curator of the 

 Norwich Museum : 



Two glass troughs filled with aquatic plants and 

 animals were provided, into which a solitary individual 

 of either species was inducted. Each made himself 

 quite at ease ; and a female companion being introduced 

 into the domicile, he was not long in commencing the 

 work of nidification. 



Tbe appearance of the three-spined stickleback was 

 exceedingly beautiful. The little creature's throat and 

 belly were of a bright red colour, and his eyes of a 

 brilliant bluish-green, having a perfectly metallic lustre, 

 not unlike the green feathers of a humming-bird ; and 

 the whole fish seemed somewhat translucent, and glow- 

 ing with an internal brightness. 



He selected a spot nearly in the centre of the trough, 



