96 



WITH HARD CHEEKS. 



ACANTHOPTERYGU. 



WITH HARD CHEEKS. 



THE SHORT-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



Gasterosteus brachycentrus, Cuv. et VALENC. Hist. Nat. des. Poiss.t. iv. p. 499. 



pi. 98, fig. 2. 



SPECIMENS of a large species of Three-spined Stickleback, 

 with very short spines, taken in the North of Ireland, have 

 been supplied me by William Thompson, Esq. Vice-Presi- 

 dent of the Belfast Natural History Society, who believes it 

 to be identical with Cuvier's species as quoted above. In 

 the number of lateral plates, this species agrees with G. leiu- 

 rus ; but the fish is of much larger size, while the spines, as 

 may be seen by comparison, are very considerably shorter. 

 The lateral plates do not extend beyond the limits of the 

 pectoral fin, from whence the lateral line is a mere linear de- 

 pression ; and whether the examples of this fish be taken from 

 mountain streams, those of the lower grounds, or from the 

 sea, the water of the lowest temperature produced specimens 

 of the largest size. According to Mr. Thompson, the verte- 

 brse in this species are more numerous than in G. leiurus. 

 The plate represents this fish of the natural size. Fin-rays : 



D. Ill + 13 : P. 10 : A. 1 + 9 : C. 12. 



