. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE STICKLEBACK. 463 Stirklebacks, for they will even go out of their way to attack anything which they think may possibly offend them, and they have no more hesitation in charging at a human being than at one of their own species. I hnve known one of these belligerent fish make repeated dashes at my walking-stick, knocking his nose so hard against his inanimate antagonist that he inflicted a perceptible jar upon it, and, in spite of the blows which his nose must have suffered, returning to the combat time after time with undiminished spirit. These comb
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE STICKLEBACK. 463 Stirklebacks, for they will even go out of their way to attack anything which they think may possibly offend them, and they have no more hesitation in charging at a human being than at one of their own species. I hnve known one of these belligerent fish make repeated dashes at my walking-stick, knocking his nose so hard against his inanimate antagonist that he inflicted a perceptible jar upon it, and, in spite of the blows which his nose must have suffered, returning to the combat time after time with undiminished spirit. These combats are, however, most common about the breeding season, when every adult Stickleback challenges every other of his own sex, and they do little but fight from morning to evening. They areas jealous as they are courageous, and will not allow another fish to pass within a certain distance of their home without darting out and offering battle. Anyone may see these spirited little combats by quietly watching the inhabitants of a clear streamlet on a summer day. The two antagonists dart at each other with spears in rest, snap at each other's gills or head, and retain their grasp with the tenacity of a bull-dog. They whirl round and round in the water, they drop, feint, attack, and retreat, with astonishing quickness, until one confesses itself beaten and makes off for shelter, the conqueror snapping at its tail and inflicting a parting bite. â Then is the time to see the trium- phant little creature in all the glory of his radiant apparel; for with his con- quest he assumes the victor's crown ; his back glows with shining green, his sides and head are glorious with gold and scarlet, and his belly is silvery white. It is a little creature, certainly, but even among the brilliant inha- bitants of the southern seas a more gorgeously-coloured fish can hardly be found. If the conqueror Stickle- back could only be enlarged to the size of a full-grown perch or roach, it would excite the g
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
