124 
1 he Scottish Naturalist. 
and sometimes, as I am informed, in regular nests over which the- 
male fish is said to mount a careful guard until the eggs are 
hatched. It has not been my good fortune to observe either the 
nests or the paternal surveillance. 
When these fish live in a confined pond, or small river, the 
males at spawning time assume very vivid colours. The throat 
becomes bright crimson, the whole body a lively green, and the 
eyes flash alternately emerald and fire, whilst the motions and 
actions of the little creature itself are savage and warlike in the 
extreme. In the broad and ample waters of Loch Lomond, how- 
ever, no such change takes place ; the fish retain their wonted 
appearance, and the males are not to be distino;uished from the 
females, save by their smaller size and less portly bodies. 
This hardy little fish is found throughout the whole kingdom, 
and is as much at home in salt as in fresh water. 
Gasterosteus spinulosus, /^/y^/J, the Four-spined Stickle- 
back. This species, which may indeed be only an abnormal form 
of the preceding, is very scarce, only two examples having come 
under my notice. These specimens were taken in July, and al- 
though they were along with many hundreds of the common 
species, there was no hesitation in picking them out as something 
different from the others. They appeared to be intermediate in 
shape between aadeatus and pimgitius, 
Gasterosteus pungitius, Linfie, the Ten-spined Stickleback. 
This, the smallest of the genus, occurs sparingly along with the 
other species. Its habits are much the same as aadeatus, and it 
is probable that it spawns at the same time and in the same 
manner as its larger and commoner congener, but I have not had 
an opportunity of observing and noting the facts. 
Perca fluviatilis, Linne, the Perch. The perch in former 
years was exceedingly abundant all over the loch, but it is now 
not nearly so numerous, although still found in considerable shoals, 
chiefly of small-sized fish. 
Occasionally the perch attains a great size, the largest which I 
have seen weighing 4I lbs. and 4 J lbs., both taken by rod and line 
in Loch Lomond. 
This fish spawns in April and May, depositing its eggs on weeds 
in shallow bays and backwaters, three or four individuals being 
generally engaged in spawning together. After spawning, the perch 
quickly recovers its condition, and is quite fit for the table in July 
