CLASS V. PISCES: OEDER 3. TELEOSTEA, 
THE FIFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 
with the greatest courage, and even takes care of the young fry when they are hatched. All 
this is the more remarkable as there are few instances in which a fish shoAvs any further interest 
in his offspring than to see that the eggs are deposited in a suitable place. Another curious 
fact in regard to these fishes is, that undei- 
the influence of terror their skin turns 
^•^f ^W-'-^^^^^^^^ suddenly pale. 
* - ^ The Common European Stickleback, 
^ Q. trachurus^ three inches long, is found 
both in salt and fresh water. It so abounds 
in the sluggish streams and pools of the 
THE STICKLEBACK. Lincolnshirc fens of England, that it is 
sometimes used for manure. 
The FiFTEEN-spiNED STICKLEBACK, G. sjnnackia, is a marine species, and is five to eight inches 
long. It is very voracious, and one six inches long being put into a pail of Avater Avith an eel 
three inches long, immediately SAval- 
lowed all but the tail ; it Avas obliged, 
hoAvever, after a time to diso-oro-e it 
in a half-digested state. Common in 
European Avaters. 
There are several species of this 
genus on our coasts ; among them are 
the Two-spiNED Stickleback, G. bia- 
culeatus, tAvo to three inches long ; the 
New York Stickleback, G. neobor- 
acencis, nearly of the same size; the 
Four-spined Stickleback, G. quad- 
racus, and the Many-spined Stickleback, G. occidentalism both somcAvhat smaller. 
THE PERCID^. 
This is a very extensive family, comprising many of the fishes most esteemed for the table. 
They have a large mouth armed Avith numerous small teeth, among Avhich a fcAv larger fangs are 
often present. The fins are Avell developed, the A^entrals placed either on the breast or throat, and 
the skin clothed Avith ctenoid scales. 
Genus PEKCA : Ferca. — To this belong several species abounding in the seas and fresh 
Avaters of all parts of the Avorld. The Com- 
mon Perch of Europe, P. fluviatilis, is one 
of the best and handsomest of the fresh 
AA-ater fishes of that quarter of the globe. 
The American Yellow Perch, P.fla- 
vcsce7is,is A^ery closely allied to the preceding; 
it is six to tAvelve inches long, sides yelloAV, 
Avith six to eight dark vertical bands over 
the back. It is common in our lakes and 
ponds, and, as it bites freely, is a favorite 
Avith young anglers. It sometimes reaches 
a Aveight of three pounds. It is easily transported in Avater from one place to another, and has 
been introduced into numerous lakes and ponds in the United States, Avhere it did not originally 
exist. There are several other American species, all bearing a resemblance to the preceding. 
Genus LUCIOPERCA : Lucioperca, includes the Sander, L. sandra, of a more elongated form 
than the perch, and greatly valued for the table. It attains the length of three or four feet ; 
found in Germany and Eastern Europe. 
The American Sander, L. Americana, the Common PiJce or PicJcerel of the great lakes, and 
often called the Yellow Pike Perch, Ohio Perch, Glass Eye, Ohio Salmon, &c., is about 
THE EUROPEAN PERCH. 
