88 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
count for the difference in number of young eels 
on their upward migration, and of those which 
return down-stream in the autumn. In some 
places these baby eels are much sought after, and 
are formed into cakes, which are eaten fried.” 
Eels spawn like other fishes, though for a long 
period the most remarkable theories were held 
as to their birth. One of the old beliefs was that 
they sprang from mud; and a rival theory held 
that young eels developed from fragments sepa- 
rated from their parents’ bodies by rubbing against 
rocks. One old author not only declared that 
they came from May-dew, but gave the follow- 
ing receipt for producing them: “Cut up two 
turfs covered with May-dew, and lay them one 
upon the other, the grassy sides inwards, and 
then expose them to the heat of the sun; in a 
few hours there will spring from them an infinite 
quantity of eels.” 
Four, or at most five species of Stickleback are 
known to British naturalists. These are distin- 
guished according to the number of spines which 
they carry, and those mentioned above have 
three, four, five, ten, and fifteen respectively. All 
the sticklebacks are tiny fishes, though owing to 
several characteristics they are remarkably interest- 
ing. They have a marvellous power of conforming 
to any and every environment, and are found in 
