GASTEROSTEUS. STICKLEBACK, 



Generic Character. 



Corpus subelongatum. 

 Spin<e dorsales distinctae. 

 Pinna vcntrales spinosae. 

 Abdomen utrinque cari- 

 natum, subtus osseum. 



Body somewhat lengthened. 

 Dorsal spines distinct. 

 Ventral jim spiny. 

 Abdomen carinated or 



shielded on the sides, and 



bony beneath. 



COMMON STICKLEBACK. 



Gasterosteus Aculeatus. G. olivaccus, subtus rubro-argcntcw, 



,spii,s dorsaUbm tribus. 



Olivaceous Stickleback, silvery-red beneath, with three dorsal 

 ' spines. 



Gasterosteus aculeatus. Lin. Common Stickleback, Ban- 

 stickle, &c. 



JL HIS minute fish is an almost universal in- 

 habitant of ponds, rivers, and marshes, occurring 

 sometimes even in salt or brackish waters. When 

 in its full perfection of colour it is highly beautiful ; 

 the gills and abdomen being of a bright red, the 

 back a fine olive green, and the sides silvery. It is 

 chiefly in the early part of summer that it appears 

 thus decorated; the colours in a great degree fading 

 as the season advances. The general length of 

 this species is about two inches, but it sometimes 

 arrives to the length of three: the ventral fins consist 



