1G7 



GA8TEU0STEUS. 



Tkk cliceks covered with mailed plates. Back with free spines 

 anterior to the doi-sal fin. The.<?e spines have usually a sliglit mem- 

 branous border on their posterior edge, but do not constitute a fin. 

 The belly is strengthened with a stout, bone in front, from whence the 

 generic mime. To this hone, and the apparatus attached to it, are 

 fastened the ventral fins, the outer ray of which is a weapon of 

 offence. The gill nu'inbrane has no more thon three rays. 



Linna)us reckons this genus in his class of thoracic fishes; in which 

 the ventral fins arc not attached to the thorax, nor behind to the 

 pelvis, but to the belly between these parts, and nearly under the 

 pectoral fins. 



THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



1{.\NSTICKLE. MINNIS, SHARPJ-ING. PRICKLEFISII. 



Pimfjitias Alherti, Jonston; with a very poor figure. 



WiLLOuGUBY; p. 341, tab. X, 14, the 

 figure bad. He supposes this fish 

 to be the Centriscus of Theophrastus. 

 GatsfrroHfeus acideatas, Linn.'EUs and Blocu; pi. 53. 



Donovan; pi. 11. 

 " trachurus, ' CuviEii. Eough-tailed Stickleback. 



" gijmnurus-semkirinatas, Cuvier. Half-armed Stickleback. 



" lelurus, CuviER. Smooth-tailed Stickleback. 



Yarkell; Br. R, vol. i, p. 90, 94, 95. 

 " hracliycentrus, Yarrell; Br. F., vol. i, p. 96, ? and 



in Loudou'.s Mag., vol. iii, p. 521. 

 " spimdosns, Yarrell; Br. F., vol. i, p. 97.'' 



Jenyxs; Manual, p. 31.8. 

 " " Dr. GtNTHEK; Catalogue of i^'ishcs iu 



the Britisli Museum, vol. i, p. 2. 

 Gaaterost^o cjjinoche, Lacei'Ede and Risso. 



This race of fishes is generally of small size, and on that 

 account commonly overlooked or disregarded by the casual 

 observer. Yet they occupy an important place in tlie economy 



