THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



THE first family is well represented in England by many pretty and interesting species, 

 of which the two creatures figured in the engraving are familiar examples. 



The THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK is one of our commonest British fishes, and is known 

 in different parts of England under the names of TITTLEBAT, PRICKLEFISH, 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 in keeping within due bounds the many aquatic and 

 terrestrial insects, which, although performing their indispensable duties in the world, are 

 so extremely prolific, that they would render the country uninhabitable were they allowed 

 to increase without some check. 



So voracious and fearless indeed is this little creature that it always forms the earliest 

 game of the juvenile angler, who need not trouble himself in the least about the temper 

 of his hooks, the fineness of his tackle, or the delicate balance of his float. Any one can 

 catch a Stickleback without rod, float, or even hook. All that is needful is to repair to 



TEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. -Gaitertstau pungitius. THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. -Gasterosteus acute 



the nearest streamlet, armed with a yard or two of thread and a walking-stick Thin 



twine will answer very well instead of the thread, and even the stick is not absolutelv 



eded. Having proceeded thus equipped to the bank of the stream, a worm may be 



eked out of the ground, tied by the middle to the thread and thrown quite at random 



into the water. 



The Sticklebacks will not be in the least frightened by the splash, but rather rejoice 



it as calling their attention to food. In a moment the worm will be the centre of a 



:endmg mass of little fishes, rolling over and over, struggling to the utmost of their 



STS f f ^ 7 , * the W0im 1 from si s ht Now let the an s ler qri<&iy lift the 



mLrpH t fV*5 S r ng V n Sh re ' and he W1U almost certainl y fi* d that ^ has 

 . two Sticklebacks, one hanging to each end of the worm, and retaining its hold 



be S2S? 7 l Can , 5 7 1 Q - i^f 6d t0 relin( l uish its g ri Pe. This process may 



repeated at pleasure, and as the Sticklebacks never seem to learn wisdom, alar^e store 



STlES f% aC , CUmUlated ; s is a g od wa ? of stocking an aquarium, as the strongest 

 act liveliest fish are sure to be caught first. 



I have caught them by hundreds in a common butterfly-net, by the simple stratagem 

 "?? ^ ^ ^ - the Water ' t* ^ ^e worm over the ring, and by de^eS 

 the worm and raising the net until I had the whole flock within the meshes! 



