74 



THE STICKLEBACK. 



are several species of British sticklebacks ; but the 

 commonest, and I think the most beautiful, is the 

 three-spined stickleback. 



These little fish derive their name from the sharp 

 spines with which they are armed, and which they 

 can raise or depress at pleasure — as 1 know to my 

 cost. For being, as boys often are, rather silly, I 

 made a wager that I would swallow a minnow alive; 

 and having made the bet, proceeded to win it. Un- 

 fortunately, instead of a minnow, a stickleback was 

 handed to me, which having its spines pressed close 



THE STICKLEBACK. 



to the doby, was very like a minnow. Just as I 

 swallowed it, the creature stuck up all its spines, and 

 fixed itself firmly. 



Neither way would it go, and the torture was hor- 

 rid. At last, a great piece of apple that I swallowed 

 gave it an impetus that started it from its position ; 



