THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 
653 
The geographical range of the Three-spined Stickle- 
back embraces the whole of Europe, with the exception 
of the Danube °, and extends south to the fresh water 
of Algiers; but the species has never been found in 
the Mediterranean itself, though it occurs in the Black 
Sea. In the north of Asia (Siberia) it is common. Both 
this species and the next one were found on Behring 
Island by the Vega Expedition. In North America the ' 
Three-spined Stickleback lives at least as far south as 
Southern California and New York. In Greenland and 
Iceland it has long been known. In Spitsbergen, on 
the other hand, it has not been met with. The Three- 
spined Stickleback is thus a Boreal-arctic species; and 
as we have remarked above, it occurs in its most ty- j 
pical form, with most developed armour, chiefly in the 
sea, while the strength of the plate-armour and of 
the spines is generally reduced in brackish and still 
more in fresh water. 
Throughout Scandinavia the Three-spined Stickle- 
back is found not only in all the lakes, large and 
small, streams, and brooks, but also in both island- 
belts, the Eastern and the Western. It is often met 
with in collections of water so small and so isolated 
that it appears difficult, if not impossible, to explain 
the manner in which it has been conveyed thither, 
or the sources from which it derives its support. It 
is fondest of calm water, and in summer frequents 
shallow spots close in shore, especially where the sun- 
shine has free play. Here it leads a merry life, and 
one may often see it leap several centimetres out of 
the water; while at other times it keeps still at the 
same spot, as though there were nothing in the world 
to disturb it. But in a moment it is all life and spirit, 
and darts off a few paces with the speed of an arrow. 
In stormy weather it is tossed on the waves, and has 
thus been cast even into a boat. Towards autumn it 
retires to deeper spots on the shores of channels, estu- 
aries, or larger inlets. In late autumn and at the be- 
ginning of winter, however, it roams about in large 
companies, which in many parts of our eastern archi- 
pelago yield rich harvest to the fisherman. When the 
cold is most severe, it probably lies packed in large 
shoals at the bottom, at least in the island-belt; for 
when, as sometimes happens, it is taken in the seine 
at this time of year, it is caught in great numbers. 
Sociability is also a characteristic trait of the 'Three- 
spined Stickleback; solitary specimens are seldom met 
with, and it generally lives collected in large or small 
companies. 
The Three-spined Stickleback devours with avidity 
worms, insects, larva), small mollusks, and small fry. 
Though of insignificant size it is a greedy and bold 
fish-of-prey, and furiously attacks fishes which are even 
larger than itself. It sometimes does damage by no 
means to be despised; and in their internecine battles 
it happens often enough that a Stickleback rips up 
the belly of his antagonist with one of his ventral spines. 
The spawning-season of the Three-spined Stickle- 
back, which period is attended by several remarkable 
phenomena, occurs about the end of June or even earlier. 
Even in May both the male and the female begin to 
change colour in the manner above described. This is 
the prelude of the spawning, which begins as soon as 
.the fish have acquired the proper colour. The shoals 
which now ascend to shallow, weedy shores in order 
to spawn, distribute themselves in such a manner that 
the males and females are separated. Each of the males, 
which seem to be much fewer than the females, chooses 
a certain spot, at some distance from his neighbours, 
where he exercises undisputed authority. Here he builds 
the nest to which he entices one female after another 
to lay her eggs. During this period the males are vio- 
lently jealous of each other, and a slight action on the 
part of one of them is often all that is required to 
goad his fellow to madness and provoke a duel. 
These combats are waged as follows: the two rivals 
rush with the speed of arrows against each other, deal 
a powerful side-stroke with their sharp ventral spines, 
and hasten with undiminished speed each back to his 
own domain. After a few onsets the superiority of the 
stronger combatant is demonstrated, his territory is ex- 
tended, and he signalises his triumph by a splendour 
of colours, while the vanquished lays aside his brilliant 
dress as though overcome with shame. While the males 
disport themselves in these chivalrous tournaments, or 
rather fight for their nests, the females swim about in 
long troops of greater or less strength outside the 
battle-ground, and now and then a male selects his 
temporary mate from the company. The female that 
heads the troop, swims forward with rapid darts, fol- 
lowed by the others, suddenly stops, and assumes a 
vertical position, with head turned towards the bottom. 
The others assemble round her and range themselves 
in the same manner, as densely packed as possible. 
a “Der Stickling fehlt dem Donaubeeken im engeren Sinne.” Hckl., Kn., Siisswasserf. Oesterr. p. 41. 
