THE SALMON. 183 



spite of all his sagacity, set down the salmon as a 

 short-lived animal, because it grows rapidly, an analogy 

 which may be true in animals or plants of the same 

 species, but which is certainly not true in those of 

 different ones. The goose and the eagle are both 

 rapid growers, and they are both remarkable for their 

 longevity. Goldsmith has set the salmon down as a 

 ruminating animal, and the mullet arid some others 

 have also been said to chew the cud : they do not chew 

 at all; though they, in all probability, discharge by the 

 mouth those parts of their prey which are not digestible, 

 and which are too large for passing through the pylorus 

 into the intestines, just as is the case with the birds of 

 prey ; or, the motion of the jaws and gill-covers, when 

 the fish is breathing, may have been mistaken for rumi- 

 nation. The food of the salmon, when in the rivers, as 

 well as that of the herring, when on the coasts, is 

 rather an obscure matter ; as the stomachs of both are 

 generally found empty. That they do eat flies and 

 also small fishes and worms, is certain, as they are 

 taken by imitation flies, and by various baits ; but 

 the fly is their favourite food, as when they do not 

 rise to a well-dressed fly, it is in vain to attempt their 

 capture with bait. Even those that are captured in 

 the sea, have not, generally, any thing in their stomachs, 

 though instances have occurred of their containing 

 the launce above mentioned, as also sprats, and other 

 small fish ; but it has not been ascertained whether 

 the individuals in which these substances were found, 

 belonged to the spawners or the barren fish of the fishers, 

 as they have been met with only in salt water, 



At a period, varying a little with the state of the 



