172 



SCANDINAVIAN F1SIIE,«!. 



Ill tlie internal (M-gaiis of this species we tiiid no Stensii(j(ire (Stone-sucker), Stonsid (Stone-tench), Sten- 



(■onsider!il)le difference from those of tlie rest of the hike (Stone-l)url)ot) etc. Tlie spawning-season extends 



genus. The liver lies right across the anterior part of j from the latter part of winter' into the month of ^lay^. 



the abdominal cavity, witli its greater portion on the I In 1726 Marsigli stated, in his description of the 



left side. The intestine forms the same curves as in the 

 other species, but there are only four, rather large, 

 pyloric appendages. The ovaries are black, the milt 

 of a brownish colour, and the peritoneum silvery, spotted 

 with black. 



Tlie Kiver IJullhead is of common occurrence in 

 Sweden l)oth along the coast of the Iialtic and in fresh 

 water. In Denmark it Avas not found before 1865", 

 wlien it was taken by Lorenzkn in Zealand. In Nor- 



Danulje'', that the female, the 1)el]y of which is almost 

 monstrously distended during pregnancy, lays its eggs 

 in March, first preparing a hiding-place for them by 

 scraping a liole Avith its tail under a stone, or fiistens 

 them to stones or bridge-piles dri\en into the l)ottom. 

 It then, however, deserts them, and the male takes its 

 place as their protector and guards them for a month, 

 until tlie young are able to shift for themselves. In 

 more modern times Heckel and Kner'' received trust- 



way, according to Collett, its place is taken by the ; Avorthy information to the same effect from some fisher- 

 Alpine Bullhead. It also occurs throughout all Europe \ men of the Drave, one of tlie trilnitaries of the Danube, 

 noi'th of the Pjn-enees and Greece, and according to ' Avho added that it was the male that searched for the 

 Gunther'', in Northern Asia. Whether it coincides with hole to receive the eggs' and then defended it with 

 any of the fresh-water Cntfi of Nortli America'', still ' desperate courage. Before the latter authors had given 

 seems a matter of doidjt, however probalile it may their opinion in favour of the truth of this assertion, 

 appea.r. Througliout this Avide geographical range it is I I-jcstrom' doubted its vei-acitv on the ground that he 

 most often found at spots where the water is clear and "had often seen this fish close to its roe, \vhen it was 

 the bottom consists of sand and pebl)les. It does not just as timid as usual and did not make the slis'htest 



live in lai'ge shoaJs, but leads a solitary existence apart 

 from its fellows; it frequents shallow beaches and at 

 spots of this nature is seldom sought in vain, if one 

 raises the stones. It is under them that it usually 

 passes its time in (juiet ami inactivity, \vatching from 

 its lurking-i)lace for the insects, worms, Gammaroids 

 and other small crustaceans, or the fry or even the 

 small tishes of no inconsiderable size, Avhich may ap- 

 proach and fall a prey to its voracity. According to Be- 

 NECKE it is especially fond of Trout-ova''. Its move- 

 ments are (puck; when driven from its shelter, it darts 

 witli the speed (jf an arrow under tlie nearest stone or 

 other suital)le place of refuge. This peculiarity in its 

 way of life has given rise to the various names by 

 which it is known in different parts of Sweden, as 



attempt to defend it. ' More minute observations are 

 still needed on this points Sundevall (1. c.) found 

 the eggs "in a mass, firmly attached to small stones, 

 close in shore" in the island-belt near Stockholm. 



The fiesh of the River Bullhead is white, but is 

 said to turn red ■when boiled'. It is stated by many 

 to be of extremely good flavour; l)ut as the fish is 

 never so large as to render it worth while to catch 

 and prepare it, there is no special fishery for it. It 

 is, however, an excellent bait, especially for Eels and 

 Perch. It may be easily taken witli a forked stick of 

 suitable si/.e, if one cautiously lifts the stone under 

 which it has hidden itself. 



(Ekstrom, Smitt.) 



" See LCtkex, 1. c. 



'' Studij of Fishes, p. 47 7; Iliindh. /rlithyoL, p. ;3;!8. 



'■ Cf. Day, 1. c, p. 4i). 



'' ILtndh. Fisclic. Finclierfi, by Benecke, Dauier and Max v. d. Borne, p. 79. 



'' Febnmry, according to Munius and Heincke, 1. c; cf. also Malmgren, 1. c. 



^ G. C. C'EnERSTiiOM, FiskoJI/'iiij orli Svcriges F/skerier, p. 231. 



'■> Dannbiits Pnnnoitico-Mij.-iicus, toiu. IV, ]:i. 73. 



'' iSiisKivasserjlscIie dcr OesteiTcicin'i'rlicii Moiua-rhie, ]i. .'SO. 



' Cf. Ilie account of Batviiclnis given above. 



' Vet.-Akad. Hand!., 1831, ].. .Til. 



* Cf. Bl.ANCIlAIili, 1. c, p. 170. 



' Cuv., Vai,,, 1. c, p. 152. Day, ). c, p. 48, slates tliat this is a i>ccnliarity confineil to certain localities. 



