THE THREE-SP1NED STICKLEBACKS. 149 



shooting at it, with amazing force, and seldom 

 missing their mark *. 



The flesh of this species is white and well tasted. 



THE STICKLEBACKS. 



IN the Sticklebacks the head is somewhat oblong 

 and smooth, having the jaws armed with minute 

 teeth. The gill- membrane has either three, six, 

 or seven rays. The body is keel-shaped towards the 

 tail, and covered with bony plates. On the back, 

 betwixt the dorsal fin and the head, are several sharp 

 spines. 



The species, which are not very numerous, are 

 dispersed over various parts of the world, some in- 

 habiting the fresh waters, and others being confined 

 to the ocean. The manners of the former may in 

 a great measure be collected from those of the fol- 

 lowing species : 



THE THREE-SPINED ST 1 C KL E B AC Kf . 



These little fish, which seldom exceed two inches 

 in length, are very common in many of our rivers. 

 They have three sharp spines on their back, which 



* Phil. Tran. vol. liii. p. 89, and vol. Ivi. p. 1S6. 



+ Synonyms. — GasterosteiK aculeatus. Linn. — Stickle-back, 

 Bansticle, Sharpling. Willughbfs Ich. — Prickle-back, Prickle-bag; 

 Phil. I'ran.—Penn. Brit. Zool. 'vol. 3. tab. 50. 



L3 



