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 the back sometimes a cream colour, but generally 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 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 mortification, 

 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. 

 I could 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, a^ you may judge fit, in your Magazine. 



I am. Sir, &c. 

 London^ Scptemher 9. 1828. O. 



