are ordinarily the periods ; but, of course, they are liable 

 to be affected, in some degree, by various causes. 



The spawning fish generally betake themselves to re- 

 tired shallows, where a kind of trough or furrow is formed 

 in the gravel, in which the female first deposits her ova ; 

 and the male immediately thereafter, emits a whitish fluid 

 or matter upon them. Both fish then proceed to throw- 

 up the gravel upon the troughs, which they level with 

 wonderful precision, They pay no more attention, how- 

 ever, to their spawn. But the exertion required for these 

 operations, aided, perhaps, by the effects of the fresh 

 water, reduces them to a very weakly state, and retains 

 them for about a fortnight on the spawning ground. 

 They then begin to move downwards, and, gradually as 

 they gain strength, seek their way back to the sea. In 

 the month of January they have begun their course ; and, 

 in February, they are found in great numbers in the 

 lower parts of the fresh water rivers, and in the friths. In 

 March, particularly at the beginning of the month, many 

 are still to be met with. But, by the end of March, they 

 become rare ; and although they are occasionally found 

 even in April, yet the number is small. 



It is a considerable time before the spawn become ani- 

 mated, and assume the appearance of fish. Early in the 

 spring, under the influence of the sun's heat, they begin 

 to grow up, (as was forcibly described by witnesses in 

 the Tay case), ' like beds of young onions,' or * the 

 ' thick briard of a well manured field ;' the head, con. 

 tinuing imbedded in the gravel, and the other parts of 

 the body rising in the water. In the end of March, or 

 beginning of April, the young fish separate from the ova, 

 and are finally detached from the gravel. They are then 

 extremely diminutive and delicate. After growing,- 



