British Fishes (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1843 Excerpt: ...the water, and to a much greater distance in an oblique direction when desirous of overcoming any opposing obstacle. It is moreover scarcely to be conceived what damage they do, and how greatly detrimental they are to the increase of all the fish in general among which they live; for it is with the utmost industry, sagacity, and greediness that they seek out and destroy all the young fry that come in their way, which are pursued with the utmost eagerness, and swallowed down without distinction, provided they are not too large; and in proof of this, I must assert, that a banstickle which I kept for some time, did, on the 4th of May, devour, in five hours' time, seventyfour young dace, which were about a quarter of an inch long, and of the thickness of a horsehair. Two days afterwards, it swallowed sixtytwo; and would, I am persuaded, have eaten as many every day, could I have procured them for it." (Sp. 26.) G.trachurut. The Rough-tailed Threespined Stickleback. (PI. VI.) The distinguishing characters of this species are included in its lengthy name, the lateral plates extending to the base of the tail, which appendage is square at its base. It is one of the largest and most powerful of the genus, both in France and this country, ranging from two to three inches. Its colours are brownish grey above, shaded with green; the cheeks, thorax, and abdomen being silvery white. It spawns in spring, and feeds on insects, worms, and the fry of other fish. It is of little intrinsic value, and abounds both in salt water and fresh, being common round the coast from Land's-end to Orkney, and existing in rivers, brooks, and lakes. Dr. Neill mentions that, occasionally, after heavy rains, shoals of them are washed down the rivulets into the Frith of Forth, where they ...