THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



223 



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 re- 



TEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



(Msterosteus puagitlus. 



THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



Oasterosteus aculeatus. 



pair to 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 abso- 

 lutely needed. Having proceeded thus equipped to the bank of the stream, a worm 

 may be picked 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 re- 

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

 of a contending mass of little fishes, rolling over and over, struggling to the utmost of 

 their power, and entirely hiding the worm from sight. Now let the angler quickly lift 

 the bait out of the water, swing it on shore, and he will almost certainly find that he 

 has captured two Sticklebacks, one hanging to each end of the worm, and retaining its 

 hold so perseveringly that it can hardly be induced to relinquish its gripe. This pro- 

 cess may be repeated at pleasure, and as the Sticklebacks never seem to learn wisdom, 

 a large store may soon be accumulated. This is a good way of stocking an aquarium, 

 as the strongest and liveliest fish are sure to be caught first. 



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

 of lowering the net into the water, dangling the worm over the ring, and by degrees 

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



