THE SHORES OF BRITAIN. 71 



Herring and the Salmon ; while those which feed at 

 the bottom in deep water, but yet have considerable 

 power of swimming, such as the Cod, require the 

 ventrals to be situated near the head, sometimes even 

 in advance of the pectorals, in order to act with 

 rapidity and effect upon the fore part of the body, 

 which is usually heavy in such fishes. The Flat-fishes 

 and Skates, in which the ventrals are little developed, 

 and the Eels, in which they are wanting, rarely quit 

 the ground, but grovel on the mud in shallow water. 

 Many fishes have certain spines of the fins developed 

 into stiff and formidable weapons, and others have 

 equally effective armour placed upon the gill-covers, 

 the sides of the body, or the tail. With these, which 

 are usually jointed, and which the fish has the power 

 of erecting stifily, and of directing with considerable 

 precision, it sometimes inflicts severe wounds on the 

 incautious fisherman, as well as on its opponent in 

 the battles with its own hind, which often occur. 

 The little Stickleback {G aster osteus), which abounds 

 all round the coast, as well as in our fresh waters, is 

 armed with sharp spines on the back and sides, which 

 it wields like a perfect tyrant. " When a few are 

 first turned into a tub of water, they swim about in 

 a shoal, apparently explorirjg their new habitation. 

 Suddenly one will take possession of a particular 

 corner of the tub, or, as it will sometimes happen, of 

 the bottom, and will instantly commence an attack 

 upon his companions ; and if any one of them ven- 

 tures to oppose his sway, a regular and most furious 

 battle ensues ; the two combatants swim round and 

 round each other with the greatest rapidity, biting; 



