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 Bourhotte) 

 may be brownish, greenish, greyish, or yellowish in 

 colour, with dark brown or black markings on the back and 

 sides, and paler below. I'he 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 impi'isoned 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 



