Some Account of the Stickleback. 331 
speckled and greenish-looking fish, assumes the most beauti- 
ful colours ; the belly and lower jaws becoming a deep crim- 
son and ihe back sometimes a cream colour, but gener ally a 
fine green, and the whole appearance full of animation and 
spirit. I have occasionally known three or four parts of the 
tub taken possession of by as many other little tyrants, who 
guard their territories with the strictest vigilance, and any the 
slightest i invasion brings on invariably a battle. As may be 
expected, they usually fight best on their own ground, and the 
invader is generally repelled ; but, when the contrary occurs, 
the victor adds the defeated party’s possessions to his own. A 
strange alteration takes place, almost immediately, in the 
defeated party; his gallant bearing forsakes him; his gay 
colours fade away ; he becomes again speckled and ugly ; and 
he hides his disgrace among his peaceable companions who 
occupy together that part of the tub which their tyrants have 
not taken possession of; he is, moreover, for some time the 
constant object of his conqueror’s persecution. It is scarcely 
necessary to observe that these are the habits of the male fish 
alone: the females are quite pacific; appear fat, as if full of 
spawn; never assume the brilliant colours of the male, by 
whom, as far as I have observed, they are unmolested. The 
bite of these little furies is so severe that I have frequently 
known it, when inflicted on the tail, produce mortifi cation, 
and consequently death. They also use their lateral spines 
with such fatal effect, that, incredible as it may appear, I have 
seen one during a battle absolutely rip his opponent quite 
open, so that he sank to the bottom and died, Another fact 
in the history of these interesting little creatures also deserves 
notice; it is curious, and to me unaccountable. Previously 
to death, they reassume all their brilliant colours, which they 
may have lost from defeat, but they are not so clear and dis- 
tinct as when in the height of their power. We have occa- 
sionally had, along with the others, a variety perfectly black : 
this is undescribed by Pennant. Of course, no great alteration 
in colour takes place in this, except that, during their fighting 
career they probably look somewhat blacker ‘These sable 
heroes fight, I think, with greater obstinacy than the others. 
Tcould relate some further facts concerning these curious fish, 
but probably enough has been said to awaken a little curio- 
sity. Never having met with an account of them before I am 
induced to think that their history is not generally known, 
and, under that impression, I send you what I know of them, 
to insert or not, as you may judge fit, in your Magazine. 
I am, Sir, &e. 
London, September 9. 1828. O. 
2 IS 
