THE SALMON. 171 



duce it for my readers' delectation: "While several cuttermen were 

 on their rounds the other day and patrolling along the Findhorn between 

 Glenferness and Dulcie Bridge, they observed an unusual commotion 

 amongst the spawning beds of the ford. On approaching the spot they 

 perceived two large male salmon engaged in mortal combat for a female. 

 Never did chivalric knights do battle for the hand of lady fair more fiercely 

 than those burly lords of the flood. The tranquil bosom of the stream 

 was lashed into foam by the struggle of these finny antagonists, the object 

 of the fray in the meantime silently beating about, spectatress of the 

 fight. From the appearance of the stream dyed with blood and 

 gradually assuming its former smooth surface it was evident the contest 

 was over. One of the salmon at last floundered on the surface dead, and 

 the victor, it may be conjectured, exhaustively bore off the prize. The 

 men who had the curiosity to watch the fight as a proof of their story, 

 conveyed the dead salmon to the nearest dwelling house, that of Mr. Geo. 

 Mackintosh, March Styrpe, near the entrance of the secluded valley called 

 the Sheens. The victorious salmon had torn off the flesh, or rather fish, 

 along the back, from head to tail to the very bone." 



The weapons in use are the teeth and a cartilaginous but very hard 

 bone or excrescence, which develops on the point of the lower jaw. In 

 striking its opponent it usually darts fiercely forward in a direct line, and 

 does not I think turn on its side purposely, although the concussion often 

 obliges it so to do. The teeth are used to tear as a bulldog would. 

 Sometimes in old salmon the jaws, from the growth of the excrescence 

 above mentioned, do not close sufficiently to allow of food being readily 

 retained, and the " old soldier," as he is colloquially termed, like an old 

 eagle, dies of starvation and general malaise. 



But to return to the female fish. In making her bed she exercises a, 

 peculiar movement. The powerful tail propels her closed muzzle into the 

 gravel, deeply or otherwise according to its state of disintegration or 

 pebbly character, and she moves the loosened stones slightly aside by a 

 quick turn on to her side. This gives a glancing appearance, which is 

 a beautiful sight. The friction does not seem to injure her head to any 

 great degree, it appearing to be lubricated copiously with the ordinary 

 mucous or slime, the secretion of which at this time is greatly increased. 



According to the size of the fish the operation goes on from one to seven 

 days, and as the eggs are usually laid in batches at small intervals, it is 

 obvious that the attentions of the male are frequently required. A slight 

 mucous matter envelopes the eggs at the moment of spawning, and is 

 supposed to give some little attachment to the egg. Whether this be 

 really so or not I am unable to say. In the trout ova there is no 

 stickiness apparent, however, and I am disposed to think that the specific 



