160 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MAILED CHEEKS. 



France and this country, ranging from two to three 

 inches. Its colours are brownish grey above, shaded 

 with green ; the cheeks, thorax, and abdomen being 

 silvery white. It spawns in spring, and feeds on in- 

 sects, worms, and the fry of other fish. It is of little 

 intrinsic value, and abounds both in salt water and 

 fresh, being common round the coast from Land's-end 

 to Orkney, and existing in rivers, brooks, and lakes. 

 Dr. Neill mentions that, occasionally, after heavy 

 rains, shoals of them are washed down the rivulets 

 into the Frith of Forth, where they thrive wonder- 

 fully ; those found in the salt water being about 

 three times larger than those in fresh- water ditches. 

 Dr. Parnell states that, generally, it is not very 

 common in the Forth, but abounds in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Berwick, where it inhabits brackish 

 water in preference to either salt or fresh. "When 

 disturbed, they dart about with great velocity ; and, 

 to avoid pursuit, will bury themselves an inch or 

 more under the surface of the mud. It is in con- 

 nexion with this species that Mr. Yarrell introduces 

 the interesting account of the anonymous contributor 

 to Loudon's Magazine already quoted, and we may 

 here follow his example. " When a few are first 

 turned into a large wooden vessel, they swim about 

 in a shoal, apparently exploring their new habita- 

 tion. Suddenly one will take possession of a parti- 

 cular corner of the tub, or, as will sometimes hap- 

 pen, of the bottom, and will instantly commence an 

 attack upon his companions ; and if any of them 

 ventures to oppose his sw T ay, a regular and most 



