242 ANIMAL SKETCHES. CHAP. 



two waters grew a large tree, the branches of which dipped 

 beneath the surface of the pond. By means of these 

 branches the elvers were wont to climb up into the tree, 

 and from thence let themselves drop into the stream 

 below. I would gladly ascertain the whereabouts of that 

 tree, and walk a dozen miles to see the sight. For from 

 the feats which I have myself seen the elvers perform, I do 

 not doubt this story, which Mr. Jesse had from a personal 

 friend who saw the tree " quite alive with those little 

 animals." 



The migration of these little elvers up stream is an 

 admirable instance of an instinctive impulse. At the mill- 

 sluice on the Trym before mentioned, when the water has 

 been coming down in quantity, I have seen the little 

 things squirming up the wall by the side of the fall where 

 the water merely trickled over the lowly greenery. When 

 they got near the top near the sluice-opening, some of 

 them tried now and again to make a dash upwards against 

 the force of the water. At once they were swept away 

 into the pool below the fall. Not one in a thousand was 

 successful. I placed one or two above the fall, and though 

 the stream was rapid, when once they managed to wriggle 

 into the weed, they were safe. A few elvers in the upper 

 stream above the fall showed that some were successful in 

 passing the barrier of the waterfall, perhaps when less 

 water was coming over. They, too, were busy making 

 their way up stream. Always on and up. 



And yet, when one comes to think of it, what can they 

 know of whither their instinctive impulse is leading them ? 

 Hatched in the mud, never knowing a mother, so soon as 

 they have strength to swim away they start they know not 

 why or whither. The rush of the stream against their 

 noses is sufficient to call into play the upward and onward 

 impulse. No matter what barriers are met with, up they 



