44 MR. F. DAT ON THE 



become quiet. When a few examples of the three-spined Stickle- 

 back ( Oasterostens aculeatus) are first turned into a tub of water, 

 they swim about in a shoal, apparently exploring their new habi- 

 tation. Suddenly one will take possession of a particular corner 

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

 instantly commence an attack upon his companions ; and if any 

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

 furious battle ensues ; the two combatants swim round and 

 round each other with the greatest rapidity, biting and endea- 

 vouring to pierce each other with their 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 vin- 

 dictive fury of the conqueror, who, in the most persevering and 

 unrelenting way, chases his rival from one part of the tub to 

 another, until fairly exhausted with fatigue. 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 the slightest invasion invariably brings 

 on a battle. These are the habits of the male fish alone*. After 

 a fight between two examples 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 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 con- 

 stant object of his conqueror's persecution f. We here perceive 

 how the disgrace of defeat affects the spirits of the vanquished, 

 and this reacting on the health, causes his brilliant hues to fade 

 away. The conqueror, on the other hand, exulting in his victory, 

 becomes more resplendent : he does not forget his former triumph, 

 and considers it no disgrace to occasionally lord it over his fallen 

 foe. Under the influence of fear, the Indian Climbing- Perch 

 (Anabas scandens) not only erects its spiny-rayed fins, but also its 

 scales, even down to those situated at the base of its caudal fin. 



Every one who possesses an aquarium knows how, on a spiny- 

 rayed fish being frightened or angry, he at once elevates his fins. 

 The Diodon has several means of defence. It can give a severe 



* Mag. Nat. Hist. iii. p. 330. 



t Couch, ' British Fishes,' i. p. 172. 



