74 SPAWNING. 



the time that frogs (Rana temporaria, Linn., called hy the 

 country people Glossor,) are pairing, the fish taking part in 

 it are designated Gloss , or frog-pike. The third and last 

 portion, or those which appear on the spawning-ground 

 after all the others have moved off, and when the trees are 

 in leaf, or partially so, bear the appellation of Blomster , or 

 blossom-pike. 



The proceedings of this fish at the lek are by all accounts 

 somewhat curious. The female (always larger than the male) 

 first makes her appearance, and is followed by two to three, 

 and occasionally by four males. She takes to such very 

 shallow water, that when calm, a ripple caused by her move- 

 ment may be observed on the surface. Sometimes indeed 

 her back-fin, or tail, is seen above it. As soon as she becomes 

 stationary, the males approach and surround her, one on 

 each side ; and if there are more than two in company, one 

 stations himself under her tail, and the other above her 

 back. These rub themselves against the body of the female, 

 who in the meantime remains passive, only moving her fins. 

 After a while she makes a plunge, separates herself from the 

 males, and shoots forward to another spot, where the same 

 proceeding is re-enacted. During this time she deposits 

 amongst the grass her yellowish and somewhat large roe, 

 which is impregnated by the milt of the males. From a 

 pike of six pounds weight, one hundred and thirty-six 

 thousand eggs have been taken, which number, however, on 

 the average does not exceed that of other fishes. The eggs 

 are hatched after a period of from twenty-five to thirty days, 

 and the growth of the fry is rapid. 



Pike of a very considerable size were very often met with 

 in my vicinity. The largest caught by myself, however, did 



