62 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. vi. 



It was some distance from the mouth, and where the stream, 

 confined by a narrow rocky channel, ran with great strength. 

 Nevertheless these little eels, which were about six inches long, 

 and as large round as a quill, persevered in swimming against 

 the stream. When they came to a fall, where they could not 

 possibly ascend, they wriggled out of the water, and gliding 

 along the rock close to the edge, where the stone was constantly 

 wet from the splashing and spray of the fall, they made their 

 way up till they got above the difficulty, and then again slipping 

 into the water, they continued their course. For several hours 

 there was a continued succession of these little fish going up in 

 the same way ; and for more than a week, the same thing was 

 to be seen every day. The perseverance they displayed was 

 very great, for frequently, although washed back several times, 

 an eel would always continue its efforts till it managed to ascend. 

 Towards winter they are said to descend the river again, in equal 

 numbers. Trout and many birds feed constantly on these small 

 eels, catching them with great ease in the shallows. 



One summer day I was amused by watching the singular pro- 

 ceedings of two lampreys in a small ditch of clear running water 

 near my house. They were about six inches in length, and as 

 large round as a pencil. The two little creatures were most 

 busily and anxiously employed in making little triangular heaps 

 of stones, using for the purpose irregularly shaped bits of gravel 

 about the size of a large pea. When they wished to move a 

 larger stone, they helped each other in endeavouring to roll it 

 into the desired situation : occasionally they both left off their 

 labours and appeared to rest for a short time, and then to return 

 to the work with fresh vigour. The object of their building I 

 am not sufficiently learned in the natural history of the lamprey 

 to divine ; but I conclude that their work had something to do 

 with the placing of their spawn. I had, however, a good oppor- 

 tunity of watching them, as the water was quite clear and shal- 

 low, and they were so intent upon what they were at, that they 

 took no notice whatever of me. I had intended to examine the 

 little heaps of stones which they had made, but going from home 

 the next day put it out of my recollection, and I lost the oppor- 

 tunity. It seems, however, so singular a manreuvre on the part 

 of fish to build up regular little pyramids of gravel, bringing 



