good from May till February; and those that are not old enough to breed, for even two months afterwards. Haddocks seldom grow to any great size; they very rarely become so large, as to weigh twelve or fourteen pounds; and they aré esteemed more delicate eating, when they do not exceed three pounds in weight.

In Greenland, these fish remain near the bottom of the water, during the day time; but in the evening they approach the surface. It is then that the fishermen are able to catch them, generally in immense numbers. Sometimes they may be observed to leap quite out of the water, for the purpose of avoiding the dog-fish, and their other enemies of the deep.

In tempestuous weather, Haddocks are said to seek for shelter in the sand or mud, or among sea-weeds. They feed on various small marine animals, and frequently become fat on herrings.

The female spawn about the month of February, at which time they approach the shores in great numbers, for the purpose of depositing their eggs upon the sea-weeds.

I

THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK.

THESE little fish, which seldom exceed two inches in length, are very common in many of our rivers. They have three sharp spines on their back, which are their instruments both of offence and defence, and are always erected on the least appearance of danger, or whenever they are about to attack other fish. The body near the tail is somewhat square, and the sides are covered with bony plates. Their usual colours are olive green above, and white on the under part; but in some individuals, the lower jaw and the belly are of a bright crimson.

By feeding with great voracity on the fry and spawn of other fish, they are, notwithstanding the smallness of their size, greatly detrimental to the increase of almost all the kinds of fish among which they inhabit. One that was

put into a glass, devoured in five hours no fewer than seventy-four young dace, each about an inch and a half long, and of the thickness of a horse-hair, and would have done the same every day, had they been given to it.

The fish was put into a glass jar of water, with some sand at the bottom, for the purpose of trying some experiments on it, as well as for the purpose of ascertaining its manners, as far as possible, in a confined state. For a few days it refused to eat; but by frequently giving it fresh.

water, and by coming often to it, it began to eat the small worms that were now and then thrown into the jar; soon afterwards it became so familiar as to take them from the hand; and at last it even became so bold, as, when it was satisfied, or did not like what was offered to it, to set up its prickles, and strike with its utmost strength at the fingers, if put into the water to it. It would suffer no other fish to live in the same jar, attacking whatever were put in, though ten times its own size. One day, by way of diversion, a small fish was put to it. The Stickleback immediately assaulted and put it to flight, tearing off part of its tail in the conflict; and had they not been then separated, he would undoubtedly have killed it.

S nall as these animals are, they are sometimes so numerous, as to be obliged to migrate, and leave their native places in search of new hahitations. Once in every seven or eight years, they appear in the river Welland, near Spalding in Lincolnshire, in such amazing shoals, as, during their progress up the stream, to appear in a vast body, occupying the whole width of the river. These are supposed to be the overplus of multitudes collected in some of the fens. When this happens, they are taken as manure for land; and an idea may be formed of their numbers, from the circumstance, that a man, employed by a farmer to catch them, got, for some time, four shillings a day, by selling them at a halfpenny a bushel.

The great exertions they use, in getting from one place to another, where obstacles occur are very extraordinary; for, though the largest among them is seldom known to be more than two inches in length, they have been seen to spring a foot and a half, (nine times their own length,) in perpendicular height from the surface of the water, and in an oblique direction, much further.

They spawn in April and June, on the water plants; and are very short-lived, scarcely ever attaining the third year. They are too small, and perhaps too bony, to be of any essential service as food to mankind; but in some parts of the Continent, they are of considerable use in fattening ducks and pigs.

THE COMMON OR RIVER TROUT.

THOUGH this is certainly a very delicate and excellent fish for the table, it was in no esteem whatever among the ancients, being only mentioned by writers on account of its beautiful col

ours.

In some rivers, Trouts begin to spawn in Oc tober ; but November is the chief month of spawning. About the end of September they quit the deep water, to which they had retired during the hot weather, and make great efforts

to gain the course of the currents, seeking out a proper place for depositing their spawn. This is always on a gravelly bottom, or where gravel and sand are mixed among stones, towards the end and sides of streams. At this period, they turn black about the head and body, and become soft and unwholesome. After spawning they

become feeble, their bodies are wasted, and those beautiful spots, which before adorned them, are imperceptible. Their heads appear swelled, and their eyes dull. In this state, they seek still waters, and continue there sick, as it is supposed, all the winter. There are in all Trout rivers, some barren female fish, which continue good through the winter.

In March, or sometimes earlier, if the weather be mild, the Trouts begin to leave their winter quarters, and approach the shallows and tails of streams, where they cleanse and restore themselves. As they acquire strength they advanee still higher up the rivers, till they fix on their summer residence, for which they generally choose an eddy behind a stone, a log, or bank, that projects into the water, and against which the current drives. They also frequently get into the holes under roots of trees, or into deeps that are shaded by boughs and bushes.

These fish are said to be in season from March to September. They are, however, fatter from the middle to the end of August, than at any other time.