QUESTIONABLE. 107 



has been more bountiful to the genus Salmo, than to most 

 of her other creatures ; for we know of few animals besides 

 (and many in the breeding season are equally pugnacious 

 with the salmon) that are especially equipped at that period 

 with foils of any kind to curb their combative propensities, 

 or who, when deprived of the free use of their teeth, have 

 their head so defended, as to enable them to perform to 

 perfection and with impunity to themselves, the part of a 

 battering-ram. 



Mr. Keiller affirms, it will be noticed, that the hook on 

 the jaws of a twenty-five-pounds male salmon, in the breed- 

 ing season, prevents him from grasping, in front at least, 

 a substance of more than an inch in thickness. He may 

 be right ; but having repeatedly killed salmon in September 

 and October, in Sweden, with baits of so large a size as to 

 have required more than that space for their mere admittance 

 into his mouth, I should imagine my friend has somewhat 

 underrated the expansion of their jaws at that period. 



In conclusion, " It is very difficult to divine," as the late 

 Mr. Scrope truly says, when speaking of the subject in 

 question, " what may be the use of this very ugly excre- 

 scence." But if Mr. Keiller should have hit the nail on the 

 head and there are high authorities who say he has done 

 so the knotty point which has for ages puzzled the natu- 

 ralists, is finally set at rest. 



Twelve or fourteen years ago, it may be proper to add, my 

 friend made many discoveries regarding the artificial impregna- 

 tion of roe, which I was then desirous of publishing. But as 

 he from time to time put off furnishing me with the needful 

 details and drawings, I have been forestalled by others, and it 

 is now too late to submit them to the public. It is, however, 



