216 NATURAL HISTORY [Fishes. 



GENUS XIX. THE STICKLEBACK. 



Gen, Char. Three branchiostegous rays ; the belly covered with bony plates ; 

 one dorsal fin, with several sharp spines between it and the head. 



Species 1. The Three Spined Stickleback. 



Stickleback, Banstickle, or Sharpling, Wil. Jcth. 341. Rail Syn. Pise. 145. 

 Gasterosteus aculeatus, Lin. Sys. 489. Ore. Braudstickle. 



FOUND commonly in every the smallest running brook,loch, 

 or puddle, that has a running communication with any other 

 piece of water. 



Seldom found above two inches in length ; the belly large 

 and prominent, especially when the females are full of roe ; 

 the sides and belly are covered with hard plates till near the 

 tail, when the body turns small and square. 



On the back are three sharp spines, moveable at the plea- 

 sure of the fish ; it has one back-fin placed pretty far back. 

 Whether this fish can be said to have ventral fins, I am in 

 doubt, as these consist of a hard spine on each side, folding 

 down on the belly on a hard pointed plate, which reaches 

 almost to the vent ; the anal fin begins near the vent, having 

 a short spine before it ; the tail even. 



The colour of the back green ; of the belly, white or red ; 



