DR. W. C. M'INTOSH on THE FOOD OF THE SALMOJf. 



145 



Notes on the Food and Parasites of the Salmo solar of the Tay. 

 By W. Cabmichabl M'Intosh, M.D., F.L.S. Communicated 

 by T. S. CoBBOLD, M.D., F.L.S. 



[Eead Dec. 4, 1862.] 



The nature of the food of the Salmo salar has been variously esti- 

 mated. Dr. EJiox read a paper to the Linnean Society " On the 

 Food of certain gregarious Fishes," including the Salmon, in 

 which it is stated*, " From the time the salmon enters the fresh 

 water, it ceases to feed, properly speaking, although it may occa- 

 sionally rise to a fly, or be tempted to attack a worm or minnow, 

 in accordance seemingly with its original habits as a smolt. But 

 after first descending to the ocean and tasting its marine food, it 

 never again resorts to its infantile food as a constant source of 

 nourishment." He goes on to state that nothing whatever is 

 found in the stomach or intestines of the fresh sea-salmon but a 

 little reddish substance, which he found to be the ova of some 

 species of Echinodermata, and affirms that such is the sole food of 

 the salmon in the sea. He combats the views of M. Valenciennes, 

 who describes the salmon as voracious and a devourer of fishes, and 



* In abstract of paper, Annals of Nat. Hist., 2nd series, vol. xvi. p. 60. 



