THE TEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 41 



with an argento-cupreous tint, which under the chin and 

 at the base of the pectoral fins becomes more ruddy. 



The spawning season, which is somewhat earlier than with 

 the three-spined, is about the end of June. Males and 

 females then congregate in great numbers, and advance as 

 high up as possible on the strand. The eggs, which are of 

 an orange colour, and large in proportion to the size of the 

 fish, are deposited among grass. The three-spined stickle- 

 back is excessively shy, as was said, at the period in ques- 

 tion ; but the contrary is the case as regards the ten-spined, 

 for so long as the lek continues, they are not in any way 

 timid, and will, indeed, allow themselves to be taken by 

 the hand. 



As with the G. aculeatus, the growth of the G. pungitius 

 is believed to be very rapid ; it rarely, however, exceeds two 

 and a half inches in length, and is, in fact, the smallest fish 

 that inhabits the Scandinavian waters. 



The stickleback is never, I believe, eaten in Sweden. The 

 scattered individuals which almost at all times are caught 

 in nets with other fish, are cast aside as offal to feed the 

 pigs, &c. When, however, during certain seasons it is taken 

 in very great numbers, it is boiled down for the oil. A 

 tunna, or some four bushels of recently caught fish, will 

 produce between two and three gallons of oil, which is 

 commonly used for lamps. The refuse at the bottom of the 

 pan in which the fish are boiled, form so very rich a 

 manure, that two tunnor of it mixed with a sufficient 

 quantity of water, is considered equal to ten tunnor of that 

 in ordinary use. 



The method adopted for the capture of both species of the 

 stickleback is very simple. The fishing season commences in 



