41 



THE ENEMIES OF THE LAEVAL FKOG AND TOAD. 



By J. Hepworth. 



( Continued from Vol. I. page Zii.) 



We have now glanced at a few of their insect foes. Many more could 

 be added to the list ; but those already given may serve to show how the 

 numbers of these are thinned by aquatic insects. 



We will now turn our attention to their vertebrate enemies (aquatic) 

 commencing with fish as most lowly organised. Many fish feed largely upon 

 them, as the Stickle-back, bearded Loach, and others. 



Stickle-backs appear to be very destructive to them, especially for some 

 weeks after their extrusion from the egg j that in my possession at the time 

 before alluded to, destroyed vast quantities of them, and when they became 

 too large to be easily destroyed, he pursued them most relentlessly whenever 

 they emerged from the crevices of the rock-work, and rarely failed in obtaining 

 a portion of their tails. So great were his tail-snipping propensities that it 

 became a matter of surprise to see one without a notched or serrate tail. 



Any one unacquainted with I^Tatural History might have supposed that I 

 had found a new species, or at least a very noteworthy variety. It was not a 

 little amusing to sit and watch this little tyrant of our ponds pursuing them 

 to and fro, allowing them not a moment's peace till they are once more 

 safely secreted amid the rock-work. 



This little warrior belongs to that great division of fishes called acan- 

 tliopterygii or spine-finned — all the members of which have one or more fin- 

 rays undivided and stiff; forming in many cases formidable weapons of 

 offence and defence. It is included in the Gurnard tribe, or Triglidoey to 

 which group also belongs the Flying-fish. 



The common stickle-back of our ponds and becks has three of these 

 spines in the dorsal fin ; the ventral fins are represented by a pair of strong, 

 rigid, spines, which he well knows how to use. When irritated or alarmed 

 the spines both dorsal and ventral are stiffly erected, and are then formidable 

 weapons, especially when wielded by so pugnacious a little creature. At 

 other times they are inclined to the body. 



No. 28, June 15. d 



