158 THE APPEARANCE OF THE PARR 



the time of which varies from five to eight weeks, 

 it has greatly increased in size, and measures from 

 1 to 1| inches in length. As the last vestige of the 

 sac disappears the alevin existence is ended, and the 

 parr stage is entered upon. The tiny fish now begins 

 to feed upon the minute water insects, etc., surrounding 

 it as it slowly works its way upward or outward by 

 gentle degrees to the surface or side of the redd, whence 

 as it emerges it is possibly at once swept away by 

 the current, and unless it can find some immediate 

 shelter will most probably fall a victim to its numerous 

 and watchful foes. But, tender and inexperienced 

 as is the young fish, he is by no means lacking in 

 wisdom. Instinct guides him, and, luckily eluding 

 his many enemies, he finds his way to the nearest 

 shelter, of which he immediately takes advantage, 

 and happily secures below a pebble or under a root a 

 safe and comfortable home for the early days of his 

 parr life. 



It will be, then, in the shallows of this river, near 

 his original home, that he remains until the following, 

 or perhaps the second or even the third, spring after 

 his birth. 



THE APPEARANCE OF THE PARR 



His growth is very rapid, and he gradually assumes 

 the delightful beauty and colouring by which the parr 

 is recognized. Four months after leaving the egg he 

 will measure 2J inches, and in six months 3J inches. 



