FI81IES. ^55 



Parr. These it retains until it has completed its second 

 year, and reached the length of six or seven inches. These 

 markings then disappear the old name is laid aside with the 

 old dress and it is in future known, not as the Parr, hut as 

 the Salmon smolts or fry. The fish, therefore, which has 

 hitherto been called the Parr, and believed to he a distinct 

 species, proves to he merely the early state of the Salmon; 

 and thus one name is struck from our list of native species."^ 



A remarkable fact is mentioned by Mr. Shaw, that " the 

 milt of a single male Parr, whose entire weight may not 

 exceed one ounce and a-half, is capable, when confined in a 

 small stream, of effectually impregnating all the ova of a very 

 large female Salmon." 



The young fry are descending the rivers in March, April, 

 and May: a fact referred to in popular couplets: 



" The floods of May 

 Take the smolts away." 



They most generally return to their native rivers. The 

 fishermen acquire such habits of quick and accurate observa- 

 tion, that they point out with facility one that is a stranger, 

 and name, in most cases, the place from which it came. This 

 we have repeatedly seen them do at the fisheries on the Bann, 

 and so promptly and decidedly, as to show they entertained 

 no doubt on the subject. 



Esocidce. The Flying-fish is nearly allied to the present 

 family, that which is represented by the Pike (Esox Indus}. 

 This is a strong, fierce, active, and voracious fish, of whose 

 audacity many stories are told. Gesner relates that a Pike 

 in the Rhone seized on the lips of a Mule that was brought 

 to water, and that the beast drew the fish out before it could 

 disengage itself.* " At Lord Gower's canal at Trentham, a 

 Pike seized the head of a Swan as she was feeding under 

 water, and gorged so much of it as killed them both; the 

 servants perceiving the Swan with its head under water for a 

 longer time than usual, took the boat and found both Swan 

 and Pike dead," 



It was formerly a rare fish in these countries; so much so, 

 that Edward I. fixed its value higher than that of Salmon, 

 and ten times greater than that of the best Turbot or Cod; 

 and, in the reign of Henry VIII. a large one sold for double 



* Yarrell, vol. i. All the information here given on the Pike is 

 derived from that author. 



