34 FISH HATCHING. 



beak, a huge finger-like projection at the top 

 of his lower jaw. I now show you two pre- 

 parations to demonstrate this fact ; and also 

 a coloured diagram, carefully drawn from 

 nature, by Mr. Jennins. 



It is a question as to what this beak really 

 is in structure. Upon making a section I 

 find that it is not bony, but a mass of a purely 

 cartilaginous growth from the bone below. 

 It disappears, moreover, when the salmon is 

 not breeding. I therefore conclude, with Mr. 

 Walsh, that it is simply an offensive and 

 defensive weapon, and is analogous to the 

 horn of the deer. 



Anxious to make a closer examination of 

 one of these beaked salmon, I wrote to Mr. 

 Allies, of Foregate Street, Worcester, who 

 kindly sent me a huge salmon which he 



