172 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
In the internal organs of this species we find no 
considerable difference from those of the rest of the 
genus. The liver lies right across the anterior part of 
the abdominal cavity, with its greater portion on the 
left side. The intestine forms the same curves as in the 
other species, but there are only four, rather large, 
pyloric appendages. The ovaries are black, the milt 
of a brownish colour, and the peritoneum silvery, spotted 
with black. 
The River Bullhead is of common occurrence in 
Sweden both along the coast of the Baltic and in fresh 
water. In Denmark it Avas not found before 1865“, 
Avhen it Avas taken by Lorenzen in Zealand. In Nor- 
Avay, according to Collett, its place is taken by the 
Alpine Bullhead. It also occurs throughout all Europe 
north of the Pyrenees and Greece, and according to 
Gunther 6 , in Northern Asia. Whether it coincides Avith 
any of the fresh-Avater Cotti of North America", still 
seems a matter of doubt, however probable it may 
appear. Throughout this Avide geographical range it is 
most often found at spots Avhere the Avater is clear and 
the bottom consists of sand and pebbles. It does not 
live in large shoals, but leads a solitary existence apart 
from its felloAvs; it frequents shalloAV beaches and at 
spots of this nature is seldom sought in vain, if one 
raises the stones. It is under them that it usually 
passes its time in quiet and inactivity, Avatching from 
its lurking-place for the insects, Avorms, Gammaroids 
and other small crustaceans, or the fry or even the 
small fishes of no inconsiderable size, Avhich may ap- 
proach and fall a prey to its voracity. According to Be- 
necke it is especially fond of Trout-ova 'f Its move- 
ments are quick; Avhen driven from its shelter, it darts 
Avith the speed of an arroAV under the nearest stone or 
other suitable place of refuge. This peculiarity in its 
Avay of life has given rise to the various names by 
Avhich it is knoAvn in different parts of Sweden, as 
Stensugare (Stone-sucker), Stensut (Stone-tench), Sten- 
lake (Stone-burbot) etc. The spawning-season extends 
from the latter part of Avinter® into the month of May 7 . 
In 1726 Marsigli stated, in his description of the 
Danube 9 ’, that the female, the belly of Avhich is almost 
monstrously distended during pregnancy, lays its eggs 
in March, first preparing a hiding-place for them by 
scraping a hole Avith its tail under a stone, or fastens 
them to stones or bridge-piles driven into the bottom. 
It then, hoAvever, deserts them, and the male takes its 
place as their protector and guards them for a month, 
until the young are able to shift for themselves. In 
more modern times Heckel and KneiG received trust- 
Avorthy information to the same effect from some fisher- 
men of the Drave, one of the tributaries of the Danube, 
avIio added that it Avas the male that searched for the 
hole to receive the eggs * 1 and then defended it Avith 
desperate courage. Before the latter authors had given 
their opinion in favour of the truth of this assertion, 
Ekstrom 9 doubted its veracity on the ground that he 
“had often seen this fish close to its roe, Avhen it Avas 
just as timid as usual and did not make the slightest 
attempt to defend it.” More minute observations are 
still needed on this point*. Sundevall (1. c.) found 
the eggs “in a mass, firmly attached to small stones, 
close in shore in the island-belt near Stockholm. 
The flesh of the River Bullhead is Avhite, but is 
said to turn red Avhen boiled'. It is stated by many 
to be of extremely good fhwour; but as the fish is 
never so large as to render it Avorth Avhile to catch 
and prepare it, there is no special fishery for it. It 
is, hoAvever, an excellent bait, especially for Eels and 
Perch. It may be easily taken Avith a forked stick of 
suitable size, if one cautiously lifts the stone under 
Avhich it has hidden itself. 
(Ekstrom, Smitt.) 
a See Lutken, 1. c. 
b Study of Fishes, p. 47 7; Handh. Ichthyol ., p. 338. 
c Cf. Day, 1. c., p. 49. 
d Handh. Fischz. Fischerei , by Benecke, Dalmer and Max v. d. Borne, p. 79. 
e February, according to Mubius and Heincke, 1. c.; cf. also Malmgren, 1. c. 
f G-. C. Cederstrom, Fislcodling och Sveriges Fiskerier, p. 231. 
'J Danubius Pannonico-Mysicus, tom. IV, p. 73. 
h Sussivasserfische der Oesterreicliisclien Monarchic, p. 30. 
1 Cf. the account of Batraclius given above. 
j Vet.-Akad. Hand]., 1831, p. 311. 
k Cf. Blanchard, 1. c., p. 170. 
1 Cuv., Val., 1. c., p. 152. Day, 1. c., p. 48, states that this is a peculiarity confined to certain localities. 
