THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 541 



We now arrive at the vast order of the Spine-finned Fishes known 

 scientifically as the Acanthopterygii. In all these fishes the skel- 

 eton is entirely bony, and part of the rays of the dorsal, anal, and ven- 

 tral fins is formed into spines, in some species very short, and in others 

 of extraordinary length. 



The first family is well represented in England by many pretty and 

 interesting species. 



The Three-spined Stickleback is one of our commonest British 

 fishes, and is known in different parts of England under the names 

 of Tittlebat, Prickle-fish, and Sharplin. It is a most bold and 

 lively little fish, hardly knowing fear, pugnacious to an absurd degree, 

 and remarkably interesting in its habits. Even more voracious than 

 the perch, it renders great service to mankind by keeping within due 

 bounds the many aquatic and terrestrial insects which, although per- 

 forming their indispensable duties in the world, are so extremely pro- 

 lific that they would render the country uninhabitable were they allowed 

 to increase without some check. 



Should the reader be disposed to place specimens in an aquarium, he 

 must make up his mind that they will fight desperately at first, and 

 until they have satisfactorily settled the championship of the tank 

 their intercourse will be of the most aggressive character. Never 

 were such creatures to fight as the Stickleback's, for they will even go 

 out of their way to attack anything which they think may possibly 

 oflTend 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 suflTered, returning to the combat time after time with undimin- 

 ished 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 an- 

 tagonists 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 oflT for shelter, the conqueror snapping at its tail and inflict- 

 ing a parting bite. 



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