80 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



in the most persevering and unrelenting way, chases his 

 rival from one part of the tub to another, until fairly ex- 

 hausted with fatigue. The Stickleback also uses his spines 

 with such fatal effect, that one has been known during a 

 battle absolutely to rip his opponent quite open, so that he 

 sank to the bottom and died. Three or four parts of the 

 tub are occasionally taken possession of by as many little 

 tyrants, who guard their territories with strict vigilance ; 

 and the slightest invasion invariably brings on a battle. 

 During these internecine combats the colours of both belli- 

 gerents frequently undergo a marked and extraordinary 

 change, those of the victor becoming a deep crimson on 

 the belly and green on the back, and the vanquished losing 

 both his brilliancy and spirit together. These, it should 

 be observed, are the habits of the male fish alone: the 

 females are quite pacific appear fat, as if full of roe and 

 never assume the brilliant colours of the male, by whom 

 they are unmolested. 



An amusing account of the sort of relationship exist- 

 ing between the Stickleback and Pike families is given by 

 Dr. Badham *. " By old Pikes/' he says, "Sticklebacks are 

 held in yet greater abomination than Perch, and not with- 

 out good reason, seeing the havoc they commit amongst 

 the young and unwary Pickerels. It is only by personal 

 suffering that fish, any more than men, ever buy wisdom ; 

 growing Pikes no sooner begin to feel the cravings of 

 hunger, and to find they have large mouths, well furnished 

 * Fish Tattle, p. 300. 



