PAGE OF NATURAL HISTORY 9 



of the origin of this fish, 'way back there in the 

 beginning, a new respect is born in us for the sly 

 denizen of our cold brooks and mountain rills. 

 It is thought by those wise in such things that 

 the life-history of the Salmonidag dates back to 

 the far-off Tertiary Period. Before the great 

 glacier came pushing and grinding down out of 

 the Northland, the lakes and streams of the 

 Western Hemisphere swarmed with members of 

 the salmon family ; they were the fish of this con- 

 tinent. Then when that resistless ice-foot came 

 plowing its way along, it goughed out and de- 

 stroyed the ichthyic aristocrat's home, compell- 

 ing some to take refuge in underground water- 

 ways, and pushing still others out into salt-water 

 where they became habilitated and are known to 

 us as sea-trout and salmon. That there is a 

 greater river system, or systems, beneath the 

 earth's surface than upon its crust is believed by 

 all geologists; that those subterranean streams 

 have played an important part in the distribu- 

 tion of fish is attested by the fact that many 

 fish not blind fish such as make their home in 

 the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, but sunfish, 

 goggle-eyes, cat-fish, etc., etc. are from time to 

 time discharged through vents from these under- 

 ground waters. I think it is conceded that 



