[B111r]

3

Chap. 12 Fishes.

"seconds, tumbling over and over again, until their strength appears completely exhausted." With the rough-tailed stickle-back (G. trachurus) the males whilst fighting swim round and round each other, biting and endeavouring to pierce each other with their raised lateral spines. The same writer adds, 4*(3) "the bite of these little furies is very severe. They also use their lateral spines with such fatal effect, that I have seen one during a battle absolutely rip his opponent quite open, so that he sank to the bottom and died." When a fish is conquered, "his gallant bearing forsakes him; his gay colours fade away; and he hides his disgrace among his peaceable companions, but is for some time the constant object of his conqueror's persecution." The male salmon is as pugnacious as the little stickle-back; and so is the male trout, as I hear from Dr. Günther. are likewise pugnacious. Mr. Shaw saw a violent contest between two male salmons which lasted the whole day; and Mr. R. Buist, superintendent of Fisheries, informs me that he has often watched from the bridge at Perth the females spawning, and the males continually driving away their rivals males.

They males "are constantly fighting and tearing each other on