Bigelow's Observations on Salmo Fontinalis. 49 
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Art. V.— Observations on some of the habits of Salmo 
Fontinalis. By SaAwvEL L. Biagrow, M. D. 
Tue following observations on the habits and peculiarities 
of a species of Salmo, were made in a comparatively short 
space of time, without any reference to science, but merely 
as a source of pleasure to myself, and to gratify a natural 
curiosity. . 
'The pond in which these trout are found, is situated at the 
base of the north-east ridge of the Monadnock mountain. It 
covers an area I should think, of seventy-five or one hundred 
acres, and is so deep about the centre, that soundings have 
hot been found, though a line has been sunk two hundred 
feet. It is supplied entirely by springs at the bottom, which 
is composed of red and white sand and rocks, so far as the 
depth of the water will permit of an examination. 'The 
water is always very cold, and so clear that the bottom may 
be seen, in a bright day, to the depth of twenty-five or thirty 
feet; and although there are neither inlets nor outlets, its 
height is nearly the same at all seasons. Its depth increases 
from the shore, where it is only a few inches, in some parts 
gradually, and in others rather abruptly. The form of the 
pond is quite irregular, and has been fancied by some to cor- 
respond very exactly to that of the base of the mountain, 
Which is close beside it. From this circumstance, together 
with its great central depth, has arisen a legend of its having 
been once filled by this mass, now a mountain, which was 
heaved out by some convulsion of nature. 
The south-west shore is more stony, and less exposed than 
almost any other, and here it is that the trout form their beds 
and come up to spawn. Another natural advantage which 
this point possesses over others is, that here the change from 
shallow to deep water is quite abrupt, affording the trout a 
better chance for escape in case of fright or danger. 
JOURNAL B. S. N. H. i T MARCH, 1849. 
