THE MOULTING PROCESS. 209 



their being crowded together into a comparatively small 

 space of water. A flood or swell at length occurred, 

 of size quite sufficient to carry the whole of them sea- 

 ward, and it was natural to suppose that they would all 

 instinctively avail themselves of this opportunity to 

 leave the river. But no; numbers remained, even after 

 a succession of floods, throughout the season, and what 

 was remarkable, regained, simply owing to an ampler 

 supply of food and lower temperature of water, their 

 strength and plumpness. 



Smolts, then, it appears, may become reconciled 

 through circumstances, or, as in this instance, disposed 

 to remain in the river an extra twelvemonth. I do not 

 see, therefore, why the parr in Mr. Shaw's ponds, where 

 they are confined under great disadvantages, should 

 not exhibit a like disposition; and I can understand also 

 the deferring of the moulting process happening to 

 them, in the same manner as happens to the red deer, 

 in regard to the shedding of its antlers, for it is well 

 known that this animal, while in its natural and free 

 state, will, at regular seasons, retire to the swamps and 

 mosses and there get rid of them, yet confined in a 

 park, it will exhibit no such inclination. There occur, 

 however, I repeat, a few exceptions to the general rule 

 on Tweed and Teviot, and, although seldom, parr of the 

 second year's growth have been captured in both rivers. 

 These are readily distinguished by the size from the 

 succeeding generation of fry. 



To what may be termed the moulting of the scales 

 in parr, and the assumption of the smolt appearance, 

 I have already directed attention. The process is 

 gradual. It commences in Tweed about the middle of 

 March, sometimes a little earlier, and extends over a 

 space of six weeks, until nearly the end of April. The 



