32 PISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



* . 



G. pungitius. Lin. The ten-spined Stickleback. 



Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. iv. p. 506. 

 YarrelPs British Fishes, vol. i, p. 85. 



This species I also received from Mr. Russell, who found it 

 with the preceding. The general description of the "pungitius" 

 answers to this species but the appearance of the two varies 

 in some particulars. 



Length of species two inches and three lines ; greatest depth 

 two lines. Color grayish, with from six to ten transverse dark 

 bands, very distinct in some specimens, in others scarcely visi- 

 ble. In the same specimen, these bands are much more appa- 

 rent at some moments than at others, as the fish is excited by 

 fear or other causes. Body beneath, silvery. Eyes nearly a 

 line in width pupil, of a deep black ; iris, metallic-colored. 

 The upper edge of Ventral spine serrated. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 10-11 ; P. 11 ; V. 1 ; A. 

 1-9 ; C. 13. 



After death, this and the preceding species become much 

 lighter-colored ; the bands in a great measure disappear, and 

 the careless observer would scarcely believe he beheld the 

 same fishes as those he had lately admired in their native 

 beauty. 



In a paper read before the Boston Society of Natural His- 

 tory, in 1836, 1 noticed the " Gasterosteus quadratus," Mitchell, 

 as being found in our waters. The specimen upon which I 

 founded this belief, was in a mutilated state, and is still in the 

 cabinet of that Society. Having met with no species of " Gas- 

 terosteus" since that time, with four dorsal spines, save the 

 "opeftes" and being therefore inclined to think that that 

 specimen may be the apeltes, I am unwilling to assert that 

 the "quadratus" is found in our State. 







