THE FOUR-SPINED FATHER-LASHEU. 4(57 



the shore, es2:)ecially if sandy and studded with knots 

 of sea-weed, grass, &c. Males and females are then 

 together, but the latter preponderate in something like 

 the proportion of ten to one ; and they moreover go 

 nearer to the shore than the males, who, indeed, are 

 seldom seen on the spawning-ground. Ilence it would 

 appear as if the ova were impregnated prior to their 

 deposit, and that connection between the sexes takes 

 place in the deeps. The saw-like points on the inner side 

 of the pectoral and ventral fins of the male would seem 

 to be intended for grasping the female during the act of 

 coition. How soon the roe is matured is difficult, if not 

 impossible, to say, as it is deposited only shortly before ice 

 is formed near the shore. It is not believed to breed 

 until it reaches the length of six inches. Such at least 

 is to be inferred from fiish of a smaller size not being found 

 on the spawning-ground. The young are thought to be 

 of quick growth. The flesh of the Sea-Scorpion always 

 retains a disagreeable taste. The male is looked on by 

 the fishermen as poisonous,- and is never eaten by them, 

 but when captured, is at once thrown back into the sea. 

 The females are, however, usually eaten by the poorer 

 classes,- who find the trutli of the old saw, " When no 

 other fish are to be had, the Sea-Scorpion is the best." 

 The liver is considered a delicacv. Throughout Denmark, 

 Kroyer tells us, this fish is detested by the fishermen, 

 " who evince their hatred by enlarging with a knife the 

 already wide mouth with which Nature has provided it." 

 The Four-spined Eather-Lasher {Dicery-Siatpa, or 

 dwarf-simpa, Sw. ; Langtorncd Ulk, Dan. ; C. btihalls, 

 Euphras.) is pretty common both on the coast of Bohus 

 and that of Norway. Formerly it was not supposed to 

 inhabit the Baltic, but of late years specimens have not 

 unfrequently been met ^ith on the eastern shores of 

 Sweden. It confines itself solely to salt water and, with 



2 II -1 



