THE SALMON FAMILY. 261 



upwards from the points, which is used by the Salmon as 

 an organ of offence in its contests with other fish. In this 

 state the males are called " Red fish," or are said to be 

 " on the reds." The females are, somewhat darker in colour, 

 and are known by the name of " Black fish/' 



THE SPAWNING-BEDS. 



The usual time of spawning is from November until 

 the latter end of January or the beginning of February ; 

 but there are exceptional rivers both earlier and later, as 

 already pointed out ; and it is probable that many of the 

 so-called " barren fish/' entering the fresh water in Novem- 

 ber and December, spawn in the succeeding October. 



The process of spawning is as follows : A pair of fish, 

 male and female, select a gravelly shallow suitable for 

 the purpose, which is generally occupied also by other 

 spawners, both Salmon and Trout, as well as by a con- 

 siderable number of male Parrs. These latter, as stated in 

 Proved Facts/' No. 3, are perfectly qualified to continue 

 their species, and they perform a most important part in 

 the reproductive process ; for the attentions of the male 

 Salmon being constantly distracted by the necessity of 

 protecting the spawning-bed from the intrusion of other 

 fish, the ova of the female are during these absences vivi- 

 fied by the milt of the Parrs *. The female deposits her 

 eggs in shallow furrows in the gravel, to which they adhere 



* According to the experiments of Mr. John Shaw (subsequently 

 confirmed by those at Stormontfield), male Parrs attain to the breeding- 



