TIIUKK-Sl'lNK.I) SI'ICKr.KI'.AC'K. 



653 



The geographical range of the Three-spined Stickle- 

 hack embraces the wliole of Europe, with tlie (exception 

 of the Daiiulx'", and extends soutli to the fresli watcu- 

 of Alo^iers; but the species has never been found in 

 the Mediterranean itself, thougli it occurs in the Black 

 Sea. In the north of Asia (Siberia) it is common. Both 

 this sp(>cies and the next one were found on l>ehring 

 Island bv the \'ega Expedition. In Xortii Anierir;i the 

 Three-spined Stickleliack lives at least as far soutli as 

 Southern California and New York. In Greenland and 

 Iceland it has long been known. In Spitzbergen, on 

 the other liand, it has not been met with. Tlie Tlu-ec- 

 spined Stickleback is thus a Boreal-arctic s]icci('s; and 

 as we have remarked above, it occurs in its most ty- 

 pical form, with most developed armour, chiefly in the 

 sea, while the strength of the plate-armour and of 

 tlu! spines is generally reduced in brackisli and still 

 more in fresh water. 



'flu'oughout Scandinavia the Three-spined Stickle- 

 back is found not only in all the lakes, large and 

 small, streams, and brooks, but also in both island- 

 belts, tiie Eastern and the Western. It is often met 

 with ill collections of water so small and so isolated 

 that it apjiears ditHciilt, if not impossible, to explain 

 the inaiiiier in whicli it has been conveyed thither, 

 or tlic simrces from whicli it derives its support. It 

 is fondest of calm \vater, and in summer frequents 

 siiallow spots close in shore, especially where the sun- 

 shine lias free play. Here it leads a merry life, and 

 line may often see it leap several centimetres out of 

 tlie water; while at other times it keeps still at the 

 same spot, as though there were nothing in the world 

 to disturb it. But in a moment it is all life and spirit, 

 and darts off a few paces with the sjieed of an arrow. 

 In stormy weather it is tossed on the waves, and has 

 thus been cast even into a boat. Towards autumn it 

 retires to deeper spots on the shores of channels, estu- 

 aries, or larger inlets. In late autumn and at the be- 

 ginning of winter, however, it roams about in large 

 companies, which in many parts of our eastern archi- 

 pelago yield rich harvest to the fisherman. When the 

 cold is most severe, it probably lies ]iacked in large 

 shoals at the bottom, at least in the island-belt; for 

 when, as sometimes happens, it is taken in the seine 

 at this time of year, it is caught in great numbers. 

 Sociability is also a characteristic trait of the Three- 

 spined Stickleback; solitary specimens are seldom met 



" "Der Sticlilin? felilt dem Donaubccken ini eiigcren Sinne. " 



with, and it generally Vwv.s collected iti large or small 

 companies. 



The Tliree-spined Stickleback devours with avidity 

 worms, insects, larvie, small mollusks, and small fry. 

 Tiiough of insignificant size it is a greedy and bold 

 fish-of-prev, and furiously attacks fishes ;vhich are even 

 larger than itself. It sometimes do(!S damage by no 

 means to be despised; and in their internecine l)attles 

 it happetis often enougii that a Stickleback rips up 

 the belly of his antagonist with one of his ventral spines. 

 The spawning-season of the Three-spined Stickle- 

 back, wiiicli period is attc^iidcd by several remarkable 

 phenomena, occurs about the end of June or even earlier. 

 Even in .May ])otii the male and the female begin to 

 change colour in the mannei" above described. This is 

 the prelude c>f tlie sjiawning, which begins as soon as 

 the fish have ac(pnred the proper colour. The shoals 

 which now ascend to shallow, weedy shores in order 

 to spawn, distribute themselves in such a manner that 

 the males and females are separated. Each of the males, 

 which seem to be nuich fewer than the females, chooses 

 a certain spot, at some distance from his neighbours, 

 where he exercises undisputed authority. Here he builds 

 the nest to which he entices one female after another 

 to lay her eggs. During this period the males are vio- 

 lently jealous of each other, and a slight action on the 

 part of one of them is often all that is required to 

 goad his fellow to madness and provoke a duel. 

 These combats are \v'aged as follows: the two rivals 

 rush with the speed of arrow.s against each other, deal 

 a powerful side-stroke with their sharp ventral spines, 

 and hasten with undiminished speed each back to his 

 own domain. After a few onsets the superiority of the 

 stronger combatant is demonstrated, his territory is ex- 

 tended, and he signalises his triumph by a splendour 

 of colours, while the vanquished lays aside his brilliant 

 dress as though overcome with shame. While the males 

 disport them.selves in these chivalrous tournaments, or 

 rather fight for their nests, the females swim about in 

 long troops of greater or less strength outside the 

 battle-ground, and now and then a male selects his 

 ! temporary mate from the coinj)any. The female that 

 heads the troop, swims forward with rapid darts, fol- 

 lowed by the others, suddenly stops, and a.ssumes a 

 vertical position, with head turned towards the bottom. 

 The others assemble round her and range themselves 

 in the same manner, as densely packed as possible. 



HoKL.. Kn.. Siisswasserf. Oeatfri: p. 41. 



