90 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



sway, a regular and most furious battle ensues ; 

 the two combatants swim round and round each 

 other with the greatest rapidity, biting and en- 

 deavouring to pierce each other with their spines, 

 which on these occasions are projected. I have 

 witnessed a battle of this sort which lasted several 

 minutes before either would give way; and when 

 one does submit, imagination can hardly conceive the 

 vindictive fury of the conqueror ; who, in the most 

 persevering and unrelenting way, chases his rival 

 from one part of the tub to another, until fairly ex- 

 hausted with fatigue. They also use their spines 

 with such fatal effect, that incredible as it may ap- 

 pear, I have seen one, during a battle, absolutely rip 

 his opponent quite open, so that he sank to the bot- 

 tom and died. I have occasionally known three or 

 four parts of the tub taken possession of by as many 

 other little tyrants, who guard their territories with 

 the strictest vigilance, and the slightest invasion in- 

 variably brings on a battle. These are the habits of 

 the male fish alone ; the females are quite pacific ; 

 appear fat, as if full of roe ; never assume the bril- 

 liant colours of the male, by whom, as far as I have 

 observed, they are unmolested."* 



FAM. III. SCLENAD.E. 



This family much resembles the Perches, but has 

 no teeth in either the vomer or the palate, and the 

 head assumes a rounder form. 



* Vol. III. p. 329. 



