GASTEROSTEUS.] PISCES (OSSEI) ACANTHOPT. 351 



G. Pungitius, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 491. Block, Ichth. pi. 53. 

 f. 4. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. n. pi. 32. Flem. Brit. An. p. 219. 

 Lesser Stickleback, Will. Hist. Pise. p. 342. Ten-spined Stickle- 

 back, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. in. p. 262. pi. 50. no. 130. Id. (Edit. 

 1812.) vol. m. p. 355. pi. 61. Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 85. 

 L'Epinochette, Cuv. et Vol. Poiss. torn. iv. p. 370. Cuv. Reg. 

 An. torn. n. p. 170. 



. LENGTH. Rarely exceeding two inches, 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Rather more elongated than the G. aculeatus; 

 the depth not so great : differs essentially from that species in wanting 

 the lateral scaly plates, although it possesses the triangular one on the 

 belly, and the ascending branch from the base of the ventral spines : 

 dorsal spines generally nine, but sometimes ten in number, much shorter 

 than in the G. aculeatus, all equal, placed at equal distances from each 

 other, erect but somewhat inclining alternately to the right and to the 

 left, without denticulations at the edges, each furnished with a small 

 membrane at the base : ventral spines barely so long as the ventral plate, 

 likewise without serratures : ventral plate somewhat narrower and more 

 pointed than in the G. aculeatus : sides of the tail keeled ; each keel 

 being furnished with several slender scales, which themselves appear 

 keeled under the microscope: 



D. 9 or 10 10 or 9 ; A. 1/9; C. 12; P. 10; V. 1/1. 



(Colours.) Back and portion of the sides yellowish green, marked occa- 

 sionally with transverse dusky bands ; abdomen silvery ; the whole more 

 or less dotted with black specks : fins pale. A variety sometimes occurs 

 of a uniform dark bluish black, pervading the whole body above and 

 below. 



Var. ft. G. Isevis, Cuv. Reg. An. vol. n. p. 170. Sides of the tail 

 smooth. 



Equally abundant with the G. aculeatus, and as generally distributed. 

 Like that species, is occasionally found in salt water. Habits similar. 

 Obs. The G. leevis of Cuvier differs in no respect excepting in wanting 

 the carinated scales at the sides of the tail, and is evidently a mere 

 variety. 



(2. SPINACHIA, Flem.) 



25. G. Spinachia, Linn. (Fifteen-spined Stickle- 

 back.) 



G. Spinachia, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 492. Bloch, Ichth. pi. 53. 

 f. 1. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. n. pi. 45. Spinachia vulgaris, Flem. 

 Brit. An. p. 219. Aculeatus marinus, Witt. Hist. Pise. p. 340. 

 tab. X. 13. f. 2. Fifteen-spined Stickleback, Penn. Brit. Zool. 

 vol. in. p. 263. pi. 50. no. 131. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. m. p. 356. 

 pi. 61. Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 87. Le Gastre, Cuv. et Val. 

 Poiss. torn. iv. p. 373. Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. p. 170. 



LENGTH. From five to six inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Very much elongated; the entire length ten 

 times the depth and the breadth: lateral line marked throughout its 

 course by a series of carinated scales, which form ridges, and render the 

 posterior half of the body quadrangular; before the vent it is pentagonal: 

 head one-fourth of the whole length ; snout very much produced ; mouth 

 rather small ; lower jaw longest : vertex flat, with a sulcus between the 

 eyes : dorsal spines commencing immediately above the pectorals, fifteen 



