BOUGH-TAILED STICKLEBACK. 91 



of this country, and a figure of each given, with a short me- 

 moir, in the Magazine of Natural History, vol. iii. p. 521. 



The Three-spinecl Stickleback was first described by 

 Belon, and figured by Rondeletius ; and the history, habits, 

 and peculiarities of the three species before referred to, have 

 been constantly included in that of one only the aculeatus 

 of authors. Willughby and Pennant have figured the species 

 now called G. leiurus, or the Smooth-tailed Stickleback ; 

 while Bloch and Mr. Donovan have given coloured represen- 

 tations of G. trachurus, the subject of the present article. 



They are active in their movements, and pugnacious in the 

 extreme. A writer in the Magazine of Natural History, 

 vol. iii. page 329, who appears to pay particular attention to 

 the habits of fishes, has described their behaviour under con- 

 finement in wooden vessels of considerable size. " When a 

 few are first turned in, they swim about in a shoal, apparently 

 exploring their new habitation. Suddenly one will take pos- 

 session of a particular corner of the tub, or, as it will some- 

 times happen, of the bottom, and will instantly commence an 

 attack upon his companions ; and if any one of them ventures 

 to oppose his sway, a regular and most furious battle ensues : 

 the two combatants swim round and round each other with 

 the greatest rapidity, biting and endeavouring to pierce each 

 other with their spines, which on these occasions are pro- 

 jected. I have witnessed a battle of this sort which lasted 

 several minutes before either would give way ; and when one 

 does submit, imagination can hardly conceive the vindictive 

 fury of the conqueror ; who, in the most persevering and un- 

 relenting way, chases his rival from one part of the tub to 

 another, until fairly exhausted with fatigue. They also use 

 their spines with such fatal effect, that, incredible as it may 

 appear, I have seen one during a battle absolutely rip his 

 opponent quite open, so that he sank to the bottom and died. 

 I have occasionally known three or four parts of the tub 



