18 SPRING SALMON 



flight, as the species is so widely spread both in America 

 and in the Old World, and although never seen in the 

 tropics, is found in New Zealand and Australia. Loons 

 are decidedly on the increase in Britain. I saw one in 

 1899 on a pond near Aldershot, and in 1900 they were 

 reported in the nesting season from Richmond Park. 



Another important addition to the visiting list of our 

 sanctuary falls to be recorded under this month (1901). 

 On the 12th I saw for the first time a single specimen 

 of the Sclavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus), and on the 

 14th had a good look at him through the glass. It 

 would be too much to expect this stranger to nest with 

 us ; the Sclavonian grebe has never been recorded as 

 breeding so far south. Nevertheless, I cherish a faint 

 hope of seeing these handsome birds in their summer 

 livery, which is a very gay affair compared with their 

 sober winter garb.] 



VIII 



Not less mysterious than the migratory impulse 

 among birds is that which regulates the seasonal 

 spring movement of salmon. That they should 

 salmon ascend rivers in the autumn floods is intelli- 

 gible enough, seeing that they spawn in November and 

 December. In like manner as birds fly as near home 

 as they can to nest, so the instinct of salmon takes 

 them back to their native shallows to reproduce their 

 kind. These inland waters are the home not only of 

 the individuals, but of the race ; for it is probable that 

 salmon and brook trout were originally one and the 



