HOUGH-TAILED STICKLEBACK. 77 



guishing characteristics being very obvious, all three species 

 were shortly afterwards made known as inhabiting the 

 waters of this country, and a figure of each given, with a 

 short memoir, in the Magazine of Natural History, vol. iii. 

 page 521. 



The Three-spined Stickleback was first described by 

 Belon, and figured by Rondeletius; and the history, habits, 

 and peculiarities of the three species before referred to, 

 have been constantly included in that of one only the 

 aculeatus of authors. Willughby and Pennant have figured 

 the species now called G. leiurus, or the Smooth-tailed 

 Stickleback ; while Bloch and Mr. Donovan have given co- 

 loured representations of G. trachurus, the subject of the 

 present article. It is probable that in their habits the 

 species do not differ materially, and what is known on this 

 subject will be added here. 



They are active in their movements, and pugnacious 

 in the extreme. A writer in the Magazine of Natural 

 History, vol. iii. page 329, who appears to pay particular 

 attention to the habits of fishes, has described their beha- 

 viour under confinement in wooden vessels of considerable 

 size. " When a few are first turned in, they swim about 

 in a shoal, apparently exploring their new habitation. Sud- 

 denly 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 ventures 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 and endeavouring 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, 



