462 THE STICKLEBACK. 
molluscs ; and as many of these creatures possess very hard shells, the Rays 
are furnished with a crushing-mill of teeth, which roll on each other in such 
a way that even the stony shell of a crab is broken up under the pressure. 
The young of this and other Skates are produced from eggs, whose form is 
familiar to every visitor to the sea-shore, where they go by the popular name 
of Skate-barrows. Their colour is black, their texture leathery, thin, and 
tough, and their form wonderfully like a common hand-barrow, the body of the 
barrow being represented by the middle of the egg, and the handles by the 
four projections at the angles. The empty cases are continually thrown on the 
beach, but it is seldom that the young are found enclosed, except after a 
violent storm, or when obtained by means of the dredge. 
This species is notable for certain thorny appendages to the skin, which are 
profusely sown over the back and whole upper surface, and arnong which 
stand out conspicuously a few very large tubercular spines, with broad, oval, 
bony bases, and curved, sharp-pointed projections. Fifteen or sixteen of 
these bony thorns are found on the back. Along the spine runs a single row 
of similar spines, and at the commencement of the tail it is accompanied by 
another row on either side, making that member a very formidable instrument 
of offence. In point of fact, the tail is as formidable a weapon as can be met 
with, and the manner in which this living quarter-staff is wielded adds in no 
slight degree to its power. When angered, the Skate bends its body into a 
bow-like form, so that the tail nearly touches the snout, and then, with a 
sudden fling, lashes out with the tail in the direction of the offender, never 
failing to inflict a most painful stroke if the blow should happen to take effect. 
The colour of the Thornback Skate is brown, diversified with many spots 
of brownish grey, and the under parts are pure white. 
THE COMMON SKATE, sometimes called the TINKER, is so well known 
that only a very short description is needed. 
This fish is found on all our coasts in great plenty, and sometimes attains 
to a really large size, a fine specimen having been known to weigh two 
hundred pounds. The fishermen have a custom of calling the female Skate 
a Maid, and the male, in consequence of the two elongated appendages at the 
base of the tail, is called the Three-tailed Skate. It is a very voracious creature, 
eating various kinds of fish, crustaceans, and other inhabitants of the deep. 
WE now arrive at the vast order of the Spine-finned Fishes, known 
scientifically as the ACANTHOPIERYGII. In all these fishes the skeleton is 
entirely bony, and part of the rays of the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins are 
Rod into spines, in some species very short, and in others of extraordinary 
ength. 
The first family is well represented in England by many pretty and 
interesting species, of which the creature figured in the engraving is a 
familiar example. 7 
THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK is one of our commonest British fishes, 
and is known in different parts of England under the names of TITTLEBAT, 
PRICKLE-FISH, and SHARPLIN. It is a most bold and lively little fish, 
haidly knowing fear, pugnacious to an- absurd degree, and remarkably 
interesting itt its habits. Even more voracious than the perch, it renders 
great service to mankind by keeping within due bounds the many aquatic 
and terrestrial insects which, although performing their indispensable duties 
in the world, are so extremely prolific that they would render the country 
uninhabitable were they allowed to increase without some check. 
Should the reader be disposed to place specimens in an aquarium, he must 
make up his mind that they will fight desperately at first, and until they have 
satisfactorily settled the championship of the tank their intercourse will be 
of the most aggressive character. Never were such creatures to fight as the 
