464 tra:75Actions of the 



double. The ovaries present a bright yellow color, and, what is 

 singular, they have no ccecal appendages, which are common in 

 those found in Europe. They are generally from four to six 

 inches long, though individuals have been caught twelve inches 

 in length. 



The Stickleback {Gasterosteus.) — There are several varieties of 

 these fish in our waters, and all of them more or less voracious. 

 They sometimes use their spines against each other with fatal 

 effect. They inhabit locations filled with rocks and sea weed, in 

 which they construct a regular nest, in the month of April, as a 

 receptacle for their spawn. After having deposited it the male 

 or female is invariably found in its vicinity, and woe be to the 

 fish that has tlie temerity to approach too near, as their ferocity 

 knows no bounds,' and they never lose an opportunity of display- 

 ing it. Their nests are seven inches long, and shaped like a 

 pear, and are formed by matting together various alg^e. These 

 are tied by a thread which is passed around them in every 

 imaginable direction. It is very long, exceedingly fine, elastic 

 and strong as silk, and supposed to be formed by some albumin- 

 ous property contained in the fish. Their body is fusiform, con- 

 taining on the sides about thirty transverse plates, elevated from 

 which, there are several sharp spines. The first is placed above 

 the base of the pectoral; the second above the fourth lateral 

 plate; the third near the dorsal fin. 



The Haddock, {Gadus JEglijinus.') — I have failed to fresh waterize 

 this well known fish. Like the cod, it is a native of the northern 

 seas, where it congregates together in mighty shoals, and starts at 

 istated seasons to visit certain coasts. It has a robust body, tapers 

 behind, and is large in front; the length of the head to the total 

 length is as four to one; the scales are small, the eyes are placed 

 near the facial outline, and are large. Below the lateral line the 

 color is a silver gray, above, a dark brown; the pvipils are black, 

 irides blue, mixed with red. On each side there is a large black 

 spot, which superstition assigns to St. Peter, as the mark made by 

 his finger and thumb when he extracted the tribute money from 

 a fish of this species, which has been continued to the family of 

 haddocks ever since this wonderful miracle was performed. That 



