THE SALMON. J 53 



great basin of the Mediterranean, makes its way by 

 the Elbe into Bohemia, and through the Loire as 

 far as the environs of Puy, in the ancient Velay. 

 We also know that it works its way up the Rhine, 

 and visits a portion of the rivers of Switzerland, 

 although the irresistible torrent of the Falls of 

 Schaffhausen that " Hell of Waters" as Lord 

 Byron would have called it prevents its ingress to 

 any portion of the basin of the great lake of Con- 

 stance. But we feel less assured of its occurrence 

 in the Persian Gulf, and greatly doubt the identity 

 of the species known to inhabit the Caspian sea. 

 Neither can we credit that it advances unrepelled 

 by the gloomy terrors of a subterranean journey, 

 " a dim and perilous way," and that salmon from 

 the Gulf, adorned by the fanciful Persians with 

 rings of gold and silver, have been actually found 

 within that self-containing sea. 



But, to return to our own sweet lakes and rivers, 

 our still St. Maries, and our gentle Yarrows (alas ! 

 alas ! 



A trouble, not of clouds, or weeping rain, 

 Nor of the setting sun's pathetic light 

 Engendered, hangs o'er Eildon's triple height : 

 Spirits of Power, assembled there, complain 

 For kindred power departed from their sight ; 

 While Tweed, best pleased in chaunting a blithe strain, 

 Saddens his voice again, and yet again) : 



In our lower and clearer waters, salmon probably 

 travel at a much slower rate than that above men- 

 tioned, as they often rest from time to time by the 

 way, taking a regular lie in some chosen spot, 



