330 Some Account of the Stickleback. 



Pennant in his British 

 Zoology, vol.iv. p. 353 : — 

 " Branchiostegous rays, 

 three; belly covered with 

 bony plates ; fin one, dor- 

 sal, with several sharp 

 spines between it and the head." He further says, " These 

 are common in many of our rivers, but no where in greater 

 quantities than in the fens of Lincolnshire, and some of the 

 rivers that creep out of them. At Spalding there are, once 

 in seven or eight years, amazing shoals that appear in the 

 Welland, and come up the river in form of a vast column. 

 This species seldom reaches the length of 2in. ; the eyes 

 are large ; the belly prominent ; the body near the tail 

 square ; the sides are covered with large bony plates, placed 

 transversely. On the back are three sharp spines, that 

 can be raised or depressed at pleasure ; the dorsal fin is 

 placed near the tail ; the pectoral fins are broad ; the ventral 

 fins consist each of one spine or rather plate, of unequal 

 lengths, one being large, the other small ; between both is a 

 flat bony plate, reaching almost to the vent ; beneath the vent 

 is a short spine, and then succeeds the anal fin ; the tail con- 

 sists of twelve rays, and is even at the end. The colour of 

 the back and sides is an olive green ; the belly white ; but in 

 some the lower jaws and belly are of a bright crimson." 

 Having, at various times, kept these little fish during the 

 spring, and part of the summer months, and paid close atten- 

 tion to their habits, I am enabled, from my own experience, 

 to vouch for the facts I am about to relate. I have generally 

 kept them in a deal tub, about 3 ft. long, 2 ft. wide, and about 

 2 ft. deep. When they are put in for some time, probably a 

 day or two, they swim about in a shoal, apparently exploring 

 their new habitation. Suddenly one will take possession of 

 the tub, or, as it will sometimes happen, the bottom, and will 

 instantly commence an attack upon his companions ; and if any 

 of them ventures to oppose his sway, a regular and most furious 

 battle ensues : they swim round and round each with the 

 greatest rapidity, biting (their mouths being well furnished 

 with teeth) and endeavouring to pierce each other with their 

 lateral 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, 

 imagination can hardly conceive the vindictive fury of the con- 

 queror, who, in the most persevering and unrelenting way 

 chases his rival from one point of the tub to another, until 

 fairly exhausted with fatigue. From this period an interest- 

 ing change takes place in the conqueror, who, fiom being r. 



