FAMILY " WITH HARD CHEEKS." 79 



terostei are amongst the most interesting, at least to the 

 naturalist, of all our pond and river denizens, exhibiting 

 in their diminutive forms a very considerable amount of 

 courage, capacity, and even affection. If the Pike is the 

 tyrant of the water, the Stickleback is certainly its knight- 

 errant: now, with sheathed weapons and glittering in 

 green and purple, he tenderly woos the object of his devo- 

 tion, or armed cap-a-pie patrols a watchful sentinel before 

 her nuptial bower; now he fiercely disputes with rival 

 claimants the possession of a favourite nook, or bristling 

 with spines charges through the liquid plains in search of 

 other Sticklebacks as pugnacious and more penetrable than 

 himself. 



The movements of Sticklebacks in confinement are 

 described by those who have watched them as being most 

 warlike. When a few are first turned in, they swim 

 about in a shoal, apparently exploring their new habitation. 

 Suddenly one will take possession of a particular corner 

 of the tub, or, as it will sometimes happen, of the bottom, 

 and will instantly commence an attack on his companions ; 

 and if either of them ventures to oppose his sway, a regu- 

 lar and furious battle ensues: the two combatants swim 

 round and round each other with the greatest rapidity, 

 biting and endeavouring to pierce each other with their 

 spines, which on these occasions are projected. Contests of 

 this sort frequently last several minutes before either will 

 give way; and when one does submit, imagination can 

 hardly conceive the vindictive fury of the conqueror, who, 



