FRESH- WATER AQUARIUM. 67 



the subject on which be writes. He says : " I mention 

 this little fisb first, because I think be has claims to the 

 rank of the king of fisbes. Whether we regard bis high 

 organization, bis courageous nature, bis domestic habits, bis 

 varied instincts, bis power of living in all waters, at all 

 temperatures, be is fairly entitled to take the first place 

 among fisbes, and rank high in tbe animal scale. And 

 where is tbis wonderful fisb to be got ? The nearest pool, 

 pond or ditch that bas life in it, is sure to bave stickle- 

 backs in it. Take a walk on tbe nearest road out of any 

 country town, and tbe chances are that tbe first boy you 

 meet with a blacking-bottle or a pickle-jar in bis band, 

 has got sticklebacks in it. They are the first game of 

 tbe youthful sportsman all over Great Britain. You need 

 not catch them yourself ; a penny will buy a score of 

 them from any of these urchins. But should you wish to 

 catch them for yourself — always a great pleasure, and an 

 art to be cultivated — then a hand-net will take them by 

 dozens ; but this is a cowardly, wholesale Avay. If you 

 wish for ' sport ' at the same time, you will angle for 

 them ; not, however, with cruel hooks. Tbe stickleback is 

 much too brave and incautious a fellow to need a hook. 

 A little red worm, at the end of a piece of twine, is all 

 that is necessary to secure him. Once having seized the 

 worm, he never lets go, though you drag him out of one 

 element into another. 



"When you have secured your stickleback, you must 

 not inconsiderately place him with other fishes. I have 

 asserted that he is a royal fish, and you will soon dis- 

 cover that he will bear no rivals. No sooner is he fairly 



