COURTSHIP AND MATING OF FISHES 155 



I should find at the spot, is an acquaintance of quite long stand- 

 ing, and is a 'robin', i.e. a gentleman stickleback, as beautiful 

 as he is brave. Now see him turn over and show himself when 

 I drop in this little red worm there, what a gorgeous crimson 

 breast, with sides of brightest silver, and back like the sheen 

 of a sunset sky, and eyes like points of living light! All this, 

 in his efforts to master the poor worm's wriggling, or to break 

 it in two before attempting to swallow. And now that is ac- 

 complished, he takes his stand under that dense clump of weed 

 [which contains his nest]. And here comes another stickleback, 



Fig. 1114. Head of Adult Male Salmon (Salmo sa?ar\ showing hooked lower jaw 



innocently looking for something to eat, and approaches within 

 a foot of that clump of weed. Like a lightning flash the 'robin' 

 shoots himself at the intruder, and she, a lady stickleback, turns 

 one or two somersaults, goes very pale and almost transparent, 

 and beats a precipitate retreat. This looks cruel, but he only 

 meant to frighten the brazen female who dared to venture so 

 near to his domain. See him now. Another 'robin' has 

 approached, perhaps the husband of the frightened lady. Now 

 it is war; now he is ready to be cruel if he can. Before we 

 can think, green and crimson and golden lights play madly before 

 our eyes; and this brilliant display is all that can be made out 

 till it is suddenly resolved into two gorgeous robins, more brilliant 

 than ever in their rage, their eyes very balls of fire, their dorsal 

 and lateral prickles erect, and red as though touched with fire. 

 Only an instant are they quiet, when our older friend renews 

 the attack with such ferocity that our later acquaintance deems 



