THE BULL-HEAD 239 



water ; here some sort of nest is prepared, usually a 

 hole scooped out beneath a stone ; the eggs are 

 comparatively large and few, less than a thousand ; 

 they adhere together and are usually attached to 

 the under surface of the stone which roofs the nest. 

 The male guards the nest for about a month, keep- 

 ing off intruders and protecting the eggs and young 

 fry ; the latter gather into a little shoal outside 

 the nest and then separate and swim away, living 

 thenceforth a solitary life until after two years they 

 are mature and seek a mate. 



The Bull-head is able to inflict wounds with its 

 spines, and from its habit of lying still in shallow 

 water, either in concealment or in places where its 

 colour renders it inconspicuous, it usually escapes 

 the attentions of birds or fish of prey. Moreover, 

 the width of the head, to which must be added the 

 extended spines, makes it a difficult fish to swallow, 

 and in 1880 a Grebe which had attempted this feat 

 was found dead in the Isis. 



The Bull-head is very remarkable for the rapidity 

 with which it changes colour, the general hue of the 

 body becoming pale or dark, the bars and spots 

 appearing or disappearing, not only according to the 

 environment, but under the influence of greed, fear, 

 or anger. 



It is very tenacious of life and lives for some time 

 out of the water ; although it is said to be well 

 flavoured as food, and a good bait for Pike, it does 

 not appear to be appreciated for either purpose in 

 this country ; nor is it worth the attention of the 

 angler, although, as Walton says, " he never refuses 

 to bite, nor indeed to be caught with the worst of 

 anglers." 



