66 MARINE AND FRESHWATER FISHES 



neighbourhood of our larger cities. Under its various local 

 names of the " Tittler," " Tittlebat," and Jack Sharp, it there, 

 not infrequently, first awakens and stimulates into activity 

 among the youthful population that passion for distinction 

 in the art of angling, which in after years yields more 

 substantial fruit in the form of many a distinguished votary 

 of that gentle craft, of which the famous Sir Isaac Walton 

 was at once the founder and high priest. The nest-building 

 habits of the Sticklebacks, including both the marine and 

 freshwater species, are well known and of great interest, and 

 may be easily observed of examples kept in confinement. 

 The task of building the nest devolves upon the male fish, 

 who at the breeding season — usually the spring or early 

 summer — assumes as his nuptial attire, in the case of the 

 present species, G. aculeatus, the most gorgeous tints of 

 scarlet, green, and silver. 



The nest itself is composed of fine vegetable fibres, matted 

 together into an irregular spheroidal mass, having a hollow 

 centre and a round hole at the top. His work completed 

 he now sallies out, and after the apparent exercise of much 

 persuasive eloquence, induces first one and subsequently 

 several female fish to return with him and deposit their 

 eggs within the little arbour. Over the nest with its 

 enclosed treasures, and, indeed, over a considerable area 

 surrounding it, he now mounts guard, and vigorously repels 

 the too close approach of either a comrade of his own 

 species or any other fish. It not infrequently happens 

 that two individuals select such contiguous spots for their 

 nests, that there is a constant trespass on one side within 

 the magic circle over which the other fish would exercise a 

 monopoly. This gives rise to implacable hostilities between 

 the rival claimants, which are usually prosecuted with such 

 vigour, that the weaker of the two is either slain, being 



