26 SALMON. 



proof of experiments that have been made by various 

 persons, that the spawn of the Salmon continues im- 

 bedded in the gravel from ninety to one hundred and 

 fifteen days, according to the temperature of the water, 

 before it vivifies ; and indeed remains there some weeks 

 after its exclusion from the egg. Mr. Shaw has stated 

 the exact time of this latter period to be fifteen days ; 

 at the end of which time, says he, the egg which was 

 attached to its abdomen, from which it derived its 

 nourishment, " contracted and disappeared ; the fin or 

 tadpole-like fringe also divided itself into the dorsal, 

 adipose, and anal fins, all of which then became per- 

 fectly developed ; the little transverse bars, which for a 

 period of two years characterise it as a Parr, also made 

 their appearance ; so that a period of at least 140 days is 

 required to perfect this little fish, which even then 

 measured little more than one inch in length." 



The above not being matter of conjecture, but having 

 been demonstrated by experiment, how by any possi- 

 bility can the old doctrine be true, that the fry which go 

 to sea about the first or second week in May, six or seven 

 inches long, can be the spawn of the winter immediately 

 preceding it ? And what and where are the young of the 

 Salmon all the summer, if they are not indeed Parr ; for 

 no silver-coloured fry are at that time to be seen in the 

 river ? I must add also, that it is incumbent upon those 

 naturalists who assert that the Parr is a distinct species, 

 to prove that it is so from comparative anatomy. But 

 they have not been able to do this ; on the contrary, as 

 far as I can learn, they confess they have discovered no 

 variation of organic structure. 



