176 DEPOSITION OF OVA. 



people, they must pardon my telling them so, are 

 feather-bed naturalists. I have already shown 

 the direction of the beds. It corresponds with 

 the run of the river. A salmon-bed is con- 

 structed thus : the fish having paired, chosen their 

 ground for bed-making, and being ready to lay 

 in, they drop down the stream a little, and then 

 returning with velocity towards the spot selected, 

 they dart their heads into the gravel, burrowing 

 with their snouts into it. This burrowing action, 

 assisted by the powers of the fins, is performed 

 with great force, and the water's current aiding, 

 the upper part or roof of the excavation is re- 

 moved. The burrowing process is continued until 

 a first nest is dug sufficiently capacious for a first 

 deposition of ova. Then the female enters this 

 first hollowed link of the bed, and deposits therein 

 a portion of her ova. That done, she retires down 

 stream, and the male instantly takes her place, 

 and pouring, by emission, a certain quantity of 

 milt over the deposited ova, impregnates them. 

 After this the fish commence a second excavation, 

 immediately above the first, and in a strais^ht line 

 with it. In making the excavations they relieve 



fore, could have prevented him from observing with the 

 most minute accuracy. 



