TEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 89 



not very uncommonly seen a stickleback in every way resembling 

 G. leiur us, hut with a fourth spine developed between the last and penulti- 

 mate dorsal : I cannot, however, believe it more than a variety of leiurns. 



" In one locality I obtained several specimens of a stickleback with 7 to 

 9 dorsal spines, apparently referrible to Puiir/itius ; but what I am chiefly 

 desirous to ask you about is the existence of a species closely resembling 

 the last, but iciihout ani/ traces of ventral spines. 



" Of this I have taken in one locality several specimens." 



The Ten-Spined Stickleback, Gasterosteus Pimr/itius, Linn. 



This diminutive fish is " rare "' in Ireland, comparatively with the 3-spined 

 species, as has already been noticed by Templeton.* The localities whence 

 I possess it are very few in number, viz. — pits excavated in brick-making 

 on the banks of the BlackstafF river, near Belfast ; a marsh in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Portaferry, County Down (W. T.) ; and La Bergerie, Queen's 

 County (Rev. B. J. Clarke) ; from this locality a considerable number were 

 sent, and among them the largest native specimens I have seen, a few 

 being 1| inch in length, and one having attained to 2:1- inches. Dr. Ball in- 

 forms me that it inhabits the ponds at Ulassnevin, Dublin, and that he has 

 procured examples near Youghal. 



From the neighbourhood of Portpatrick, Scotland, this species has been 

 sent me by Capt. Fayrer, R. N. For examples from the Thames I am in- 

 debted to Mr. Yarrell ; and in the river Leam, near Leamington, War- 

 wickshire, it has occurred to myself. 



In most of the above localities the 3-spined species was taken with the 

 G. Piinyitius. All of the latter, whether from brackish or fresh water, are 

 smooth throughout the sides (Gr. l<Brls, Cuv. liegne Animal, 2nd ed.f), 

 and but a very few individuals present any appearance of a keel on the 

 sides of the tail. The dorsal spines vary from nine to eleven in number, 

 and do so in examples of equal size from the same place. 



Mr. Jenyns, in his Manual, says of this species, that it is " equally 

 abundant with the G. aculeatus, and as generally distributed." 



This observation is not applicable to Ireland. 



The Fifteen-Spined Stickleback, % Gasterosteus Spinachia, Linn. 

 This species, difi"ering from G. aculeatus and G. Pungitins in being 

 strictly a marine fish, is found around the coast of Ireland. I possess ex- 

 amples obtained at Rathlin in the North (by Dr. J. D. ^Marshall) ; on the 

 coasts of Down (W. T.) and Antrim (by Mrs. Patterson) in the North- 

 East; Bundoran in the West (W. T.); and Youghal in the South (by 

 Dr. Ball). § 



On the southern coast, where sprat-fishing Ls regularly practised, the 

 G. Spinachia is taken in greater quantity than in the North. Dr. Ball on 

 one occasion knew as many to be captured Avith the sprat [Clupea Sprat- 

 tus), at Youghal, as would " fill a bushel," and at Glendore and the South- 

 West coast of Cork generally Dr. AUmanin forms me that it is often taken 

 at the same time with this fish. On the coast of Down full-grown speci- 

 mens have occasionally occurred to mo when dredging, and likewise under 

 stones between tide-marks, and one or two individuals may sometimes be 



* Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. New Series, 

 t See also Ilist. dos Poiss. t. iv. p. 507. 



X Horn-eel is a coinnion name fur tliis species in the North; it is called 

 Horn-fish in Belfast market. 



^^ Recently obtainable in quantity in mouth of the river Lifley. — R. Ball. 



