Chap. XII.] FISHES. 3 



with such fotal effect, tliat I have seen one during a bat- 

 tle absohitely rip his opponent quite open, so that he sank 

 to the bottom and dieil." When a fish is conquered, "his 

 galLant bearing forsakes him ; his gay colors fade away ; 

 and he hides his disgrace among liis peaceable compan- 

 ions, but is for some time the constant object of his con- 

 queror's persecution." 



The male salmon is as pugnacious as the little stickle- 

 back ; and so is the male trout, as I hear from Dr. Giin- 

 ther. Mr. Shaw saw a violent contest between two male 

 salmons which lasted the whole day ; and Mr. R. Buist, 

 Superintendent of Fisheries, informs me that he has often 

 watched from the bridge at Perth the males driving 

 away their rivals while the females were spawning. The 

 males " are constantly fighting and tearing each other on 

 the spawning-beds, and many so injure each other as to 

 cause the death of numbers, many being seen swimming 

 near the banks of the river in a state of exhaustion, and 

 apparently in a dying state." ^ The keeper of the Stor- 

 monttield breeding-ponds visited, as Mr. Buist informs me, 

 in June, 1868, the northern Tyne, and found about 300 

 dead salmon, all of which with one exception were males ; 

 and he was convinced that they liad lost their lives by 

 fighting. 



The most curious point about the male salmon is that 

 during tlie breeding-season, besides a slight change in 

 color, " the lower jaw elongates, and a cartilaginous pro- 

 jection turns upward from the point, which, when the 

 jaws are closed, occupies a deep cavity between " the in- 

 termaxillary bones of the upper jaw." " (Figs. 26 and 



^ 'The Field,' June 29, 1807. For Mr. Shaw's statement, sec 'Edin- 

 burgh Review,' 1813. Another experienced ob.^erver (Scrope's 'Days of 

 Sahiion Fishintr,' p. 00) remarks that the male would, if he could, keep, 

 like the stag, all other males away. 



* Yarrell, 'History of British Fishes,' vol. ii. ISSC, p. 10. 



