CSfi NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



frequently numerous in the river Wellatid. 



refused to eat; but, by frequently giving it fresh 

 water, and by coming often to it, it began to eat 

 the small worms that were now and then thrown 

 into the jar; soon afterwards it became so fami- 

 liar as to take them from the hand; and at last 

 it even became so bold, as, when it was satiated, 

 or did not like what was offered to it, to set up 

 its prickles, and strike with its utmost strength 

 at the fingers, if put into the water to it. It 

 would suffer no other fish to live in the same jar, 

 attacking whatever were put in, though ten times 

 its own size. One day, by way of diversion, a 

 small fish was put to it. The prickleback imme- 

 diately assaulted and put it to flight, tearing off 

 part of its tail in the conflict; and, had they not 

 been then separated, he would undoubtedly have 

 killed it. These diminutive fish do not easily 

 fall a prey to the other voracious tenants of the 

 deep, who are afraid of its spines. It has been 

 observed by several naturalists of celebrity, that 

 they are very much tormented with worms in the 

 intestines. 



Such amazing shoals of this fish come in the 

 river Welland, near Spalding in Lincolnshire, as, 

 during their progress up the stream, to appear in 

 a vast body occupying the whole width of the 

 river. These are supposed to be the overplus of 

 multitudes collected in some of the fens. When 

 this happens they are taken as manure for the 

 land ; and an idea may be formed of their num- 

 bers from the circumstance that a man, employed 



