BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 
does not show itself to advantage, as it delights to hide 
among stones or weeds. For all that, it is an active 
enough species when, as often happens, its hunger must 
be appeased. It is an inveterate enemy of other fishes, 
and greedily devours their eggs as well. Eel-like in form, 
with a prominent belly, tapering body, and large head and 
mouth, the Burbot (from an old French word Bourbotte) 
may be brownish, greenish, greyish, or yellowish in 
colour, with dark brown or black markings on the back and 
sides, and paler below. ‘The maximum weight attained 
in our home waters is about 3 pounds. Larger specimens 
have been captured, but they are of rare occurrence, 
except on the Continent and elsewhere. 
Three-Spined Stickleback.—Gastrosteus aculeatus (Fig. 
58). This familiar little fish is both a fresh and salt- 
water inhabitant, and is unlike its ten-spined relative in 
this respect. It is indelibly linked up with the days of 
our youth, and many specimens succumb every Summer 
owing to the small receptacles in which the poor mites 
are imprisoned by too enthusiastic disciples of Izaak 
Walton. It is easily lured, and can be caught without a 
hook, as it seizes a worm as big as itself and simply refuses 
to let go. Several will rush to the feast, and will even 
impale one another with their spines rather than be 
defeated in their frantic quest. ‘This is one of the few 
fishes which builds a nest. ‘The male does this unaided, 
and then invites a female to enter the portals to deposit 
her “clutch” of eggs. This accomplished, the “ Sol- 
dier ” Stickleback, as boys call the gay-clad male, 
104 
