153 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



in an aquarium with many other fishes, which, while it 

 lived, it kept in a constant uproar. A more ill-tem- 

 pered creature, even among snakes, I have never seen. 

 It was only satisfied when ciiasing small fishes or snarl- 

 ing at large ones. Its method of attacking even large 

 fishes, biting such exposed parts as were not covered 

 with scales, and by tearing the fin membranes, showed 

 that it comprehended its disadvantage in size, and made 

 up for it by systematic attack, absolute fearlessness, 

 and a degree of energy that was inexhaustible. In an- 

 other and very marked manner this stickleback showed 

 its intelliirence. It once made bold to attack a half- 

 grown pirate perch, a fish that will, less than any other 

 species, tolerate any interference. The stickleback once 

 darted at the pirate and tore the membrane of one pec- 

 toral fin. Instantly the attacked fish gave chase, and in 

 such determined manner that the stickleback saw it 

 was likely to be worsted, and took refuge in a little 

 crevice between two stones, where it was safe, and ever 

 afterwards only issued quickly from this vantage-ground, 

 and nipped at the pirate as it passed by, never making 

 an open attack. This betokened a certain amount of 

 cowardice, I know, but it also showed so much discretion 

 that this individual stickleback must be credited with 

 rare good-sense, if such a blessing cannot be accorded to 

 the family generally. But I think it can. 



Having, as I thought, made a complete collection of 

 the small fry the net had dragged in from the creek, I 

 carefully turned the wet mat of vegetation and small 

 sticks, thinking that possibly something had been over- 

 looked, and such was the case. To my great delight. 



