220 A Scottish Trout Stream. 



to ascend, it is very wonderful the heights that they will 

 leap. I have stood by the side of a northern stream 

 at the right season, close by what are called "the salmon 

 loups," where the falls are certainly more than ten feet 

 in height, and have seen the salmon in crowds leaping 

 up, their bodies seen for several seconds clear out of 

 the water glancing, silvery purple, luminous, beauti- 



STITCHELL LINN. 



ful. Most of them, of course, fell back to try again, 

 but every now and then one would succeed and pass 

 upward. 



It is near to such spots as this that the otter delights 

 to make his home, to prey on the larger fishes. The 

 general idea is that he is a very particular feeder, 

 eating only the more delicate portions for the most 

 part, and leaving the bulk of the fish on the banks, 

 to lead skilful eyes to know of his whereabouts. The 



