Volume 1

The history of British fishes / [Robert Hamilton].

  • Hamilton, Robert, M.D.
Date:
[1876]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of British fishes / [Robert Hamilton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and greedy little fish, extremely destr-^tive to the fry of other species, and consequently most injurious in fish-ponds, from which it is difficult to extirpate them. In illustration of these statenvmts, we learn from ^Ir. Baker “ that they spring more than a foot perpendicularly out of the water, and to a much greater distance in an oblique direction when desir- ous of overcoming any opposing obstacle. It is moreover scarcely to be conceived what damage they do, and how greatly detrime»tal they are to the increase of all the fish in general among which they live; for it is with the utmost industry, saga- city, 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 wMthout distinction, provided they are not too large; and in proof of this, I must assert, that a banstickle which I kej)t for some time, did, on tlie 4rh of l^Iay, devour, in five hours’ time, seventy- four young dace, which were about a quarter of an inch long, and of the thicknes.s of a horse- hair. Two days afterwards, it swallowed sixty- two ; and would, I am persuaded, have eaten as many every day> could I have procured them for it.” (Sp. 26.) G. trachuriis. The Rough-tailed Three- spined Stickleback. (PI. VI.) The distinguishing characters of this species arc 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 is