CLASS V. PISCES: ORDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 



437 



THE STICKLEBACK. 



with the greatest courage, and even takes care of the young fry when they are liatched. All 

 this is the more remarkable as there are few instances in which a fish shows any further interest 

 in his otfspring than to see that the eggs are deposited in a suitable place. Another curious 



fact in regard to these fishes is, that under 

 the influence of terror their skin turns 

 suddenly pale. 



The Common European Stickleback, 

 G. trachurus, three inches long, is found 

 both in salt and fresh water. It so abounds 

 in the sluggish streams and pools of the 

 Lincolnshire fens of England, that it is 

 sometimes used for manure. 

 The FiFTEEN-spiNED STICKLEBACK, G. sphiackia, is a marine species, and is five to eight inches 

 long. It is very voracious, and one six inches long being put into a pail of water with an eel 



three inches long, immediately swal- 

 lowed all but tlie tail ; it was obliged, 

 however, after a time to diso-orffe it 

 in a half-digested state. Common in 

 European waters. 



There are several species of this 

 genus on our coasts; among them are 

 the Two-spiNED Stickleback, G. hia- 

 culeatus, two to three inches long ; the 

 New York Stickleback, G. neobor- 

 acencis, nearly of the same size ; the 

 Four-spined Stickleback, G. quad- 

 racus, and the Many-spined Stickleback, G. occidentalism both somewhat smaller. 



THE FIFTKEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



THE PERCID^. 



This is a very extensive family, comprising many of the fishes most esteemed for the table. 

 They have a large mouth armed with numerous small teeth, among which a few larger fangs are 

 often present. The fins are well developed, the ventrals placed either on the breast or throat, and 

 the skin clothed with ctenoid scales. 



Genus PERCA : Perca. — To this belong several species abounding in the seas and fresh 



waters of all parts of the world. The Com- 



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-f^:^ 

 -^^ 





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mon Perch of Europe, P. fiuviatihs, is one 

 of the best and handsomest of the fresh 

 water fishes of that quarter of the globe. 



The American Yellow Perch, P.fln- 

 vescenSjia very closely allied to the preceding; 

 it is six to twelve inches long, sides yellow, 

 with six to eight dark vertical bands over 

 the back. It is common in our lakes and 

 ponds, and, as it bites freely, is a favorite 

 with young anglers. It sometimes reaches 

 a weight of three pounds. It is easily transported in water from one place to another, and has 

 been introduced into numerous lakes and ponds in the United States, where it did not originally 

 exist. There are several other American species, all bearing a resemblance to the preceding. 



Genus LUCIOPERCA : Luciopcrca, includes the Sander, L. sandra, of a more elongated form 

 than the perch, and greatly valued for the table. It attains the length of three or four feet ; 

 found in Germany and Eastern Europe. 



The American Sander, L. Americana, the Common Pike or Pickerel of the great lakes, and 

 often called the Yellow Pike Perch, Ohio Perch, Glass Eye, Ohio Salmon, &c., is about 



THE EUROPEAN PERCH. 



