IDapuLir 9frtfonnry of ^mmatcfc $aturf. 645 



wings varied towards the base and hind 

 margin with reddish : the base is pale, suc- 

 ceeded by a broad dark bar, with several 

 paler patches occupying the middle of the 

 wing, followed by u waved and toothed pale 

 stripe. The apical portion of the wing is 

 paler, with a row of small black sub-margi- 

 nal dots, preceded on the coota by a luteous 

 (-tri;>e : the hind wings are brown, with on 

 angulated pale stripe running from the outer 

 margin half-way across the middle of the 

 wings. The Caterpillar is rusty gray, or 



| made from this fish is confined almost ex- 

 | clusively to the use of the royal table. 



STICKLEBACK. (Gcuterosteut.) A ge- 

 ! nus of Acanthoptcrygions fishes, comprising 

 several species, which differ principally in 

 their number of spines, and are named ac- 

 cordingly. The TUUEK-SPINKU STICKLK- 



STKR-MOTH. 

 (8TAOHOPO8 TAOI.) 



fawn colour : the cocoon is closely woven, 

 and more resembles silver paper than any 

 other material. The perfect insect appears 

 in June and July, and the cateipillur in 

 the autumn. It feeds on the hazel, alder, 

 sloe, &c. 



STEENBOK. (Antilope traffitlu*.) Few 

 of the Antelope tribe are more graceful than 

 the Stecnbok. Its body is well made and 



compact ; its legs long and slender ; its head 

 small and well formed ; and its tail scarcely 

 perceptible. The length of this animal is 

 about three feet six inches, and the height at 

 the shoulder under twenty inches. The 

 upper parts of the body are of a reddish- 

 fawn colour ; the hair on shoulders, back, 

 and sides appearing to be tipped with a 

 silvery hue : the nose and legs are dark 

 brown ; the breast, belly, and inner parts of 

 the limbs white : but what most conspicu- 

 ously marks this species is a black line which 

 passes from the root of each horn backwards, 

 uniting between the ears, and forming an 

 obtuse angle. The horns are smooth, po- 

 lished, and finely pointed ; the ears very 

 long and broad. It inhabits the stony plains 

 and rocky hills of South Africa ; is parti- 

 cularly shy, and runs with remarkable swift- 

 ness. It is much hunted on account of the 

 delicacy of its flesh, which is esteemed ex- 

 cellent venison. 



STELLERIDA. An order of Rodiata, of 

 which the Asterias, or Star-fish may be 

 taken as the type. [See ASTERIAS.] 



STELLIO. The name of a genus of Sau- 

 rians belonging to the Iguana family. They 

 are characterized chiefly by having the tail 

 encircled with rings of large scales that are 

 otleu spinous. 



STERLET. (Accipertser rvthemu.) The 

 smallest si>ecies of Sturgeon, being from two 

 to three feet in length : it is found in the 

 Volga and some other Russian rivers, and i 

 considered a great delicacy. The caviar 



(OASTBROSTXDB AOULBATUB.) 



BACK (Gasterotttvs nnilfatus) is found in 

 almost every river, brook, and pond. It 

 seldom grows to the length of two inches 

 and a half : the eyes are large ; the belly is 

 prominent ; the body near the tail is square; 

 and the sides are covered with large bony 

 plates, placed transversely. On the back 

 there are three sharp spines, capable of ele- 

 vation or depression at pleasure ; the dorsal 

 fin is placed near the tail ; the pectoral fins 

 arc broad ; the ventral spine triangular at 

 the base ; and a small fold of akin forms a 

 horizontal crest on each side of the tail. 

 The colour of the back is green ; the cheeks, 

 sides, and belly silvery white ; but in come 

 the lower jaw and belly are of a bright 

 crimson. These fishes are sometimes so 

 plentiful in the fens of Lincolnshire and 

 Cambridgeshire as to be collected and used 

 for manuring the land in their vicinity. 

 The males are exceedingly pugnacious, and 

 they use their spines with such fatal effect, 

 that one occasionally rips up and kills the 

 other. 



The other species deserving mention is 



the FlFTEKJT-81'INED STICKLEBACK (GaStC- 



rostetts ftpinachia), which is of a more elon- 

 gated form than the others, and is common 

 around our coast, and in the Baltic ; seldom, 

 however, ascending rivers. Though less 

 active than its brethren of the fresh water, it 

 is scarcely less voracious, devouring the fry 

 of other fishes, crustaceans, &c. It keeps 

 near rocks and stones covered with sea- 

 weeds, among which it takes refuge on any 

 alarm ; but is very pugnacious, and seldom 

 loses any opportunity that presents itself of 

 displaying its natural ferocity. It spawns 

 in spring, and the young, less than half an 

 inch long, are seen in considerable numbers 

 in summer at the margin of the sea. 



It has been satisfactorily ascertained that 

 this species of Stickleback constructs a nest 

 wherein to deposit its spawn, and guards it 

 with watchful care till the young fry make 

 their appearance. In our article " FISHES " 

 a circumstantial account of this fact, as given 

 by Mr. Couch, appears ; and in the ' Trans- 

 actions of the Berwickshire Naturalists' 

 Club ' the fact is further confirmed by Mr. 

 Duncan and the Rev. Mr. Turnbull. They 

 eay, "These nests are to be found in spring and 

 summer, on several parts of our coasts, in 



