GEN. SALMO. THE SALMON. 119 



Tliey frequently make perpendicular leaps to the 

 height of twelve or fourteen feet, thus surmounting 

 water-falls and such like obstacles which the rocky 

 bed of a river often presents to their progress. 

 When they reach the upper and shallow portions 

 of the river, a spot with a gravelly bottom is selected, 

 and the operation of depositing the spawn takes 

 place. At this time the male has assumed the red- 

 dish hue formerly alluded to, and his partner has 

 all her usual colours much deepened. A shallow 

 furrow is dug in the gravel; both sexes throw 

 themselves on their sides, draw close together, and 

 rubbing themselves against each other, shed their 

 spawn simultaneously into the slight excavation. 

 This operation is repeated many times until the 

 whole be deposited. The spawn is then covered up 

 with a thin layer of sand or gravel. With this the 

 parental duties of the fish cease, and they seem 

 greatly exhausted by their exertions, losing the 

 bright colours of their nuptial dress, and becoming 

 lean and emaciated. In this reduced condition the 

 fish are considered unfit for food, being said to be 

 unclean ; and are termed Kelts or Kippers, the lat- 

 ter appellation being usually applied to the male. 

 After reposing a while in the depths of some neigh- 

 bouring pool, as if to recover themselves, they com- 

 mence their progress down the river on purpose to 

 regain the ocean, where they are speedily invigo- 

 rated and restored to their former condition. 



The principal spawning season is from October to 

 the end of February, but the time varies greatly in 



