The Descent of Man

Loudon's 'Magazine of Natural History,' vol. iii.
1830, p. 331.), "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
stickleback; and so is the male trout, as I hear
from Dr. Gunther. Mr. Shaw saw a violent contest
between two male salmon 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 males driving
away their rivals, whilst the females were
spawning. The males "are constantly fighting
and tearing each other on the spawning-beds,