Class IV. COMMON SALMON. 385 



scores of fish, some of which succeeded, others 

 miscarried, during the time of our stay. 



It may here be proper to contradict the vul- 

 gar error of their taking their tail in their mouth 

 when they attempt to leap ; though without 

 doubt it brings the tail very near the head to 

 make the effort in the water, afterwards it be- 

 comes straight with a strong tremulous motion. 



Other particulars relating to the natural his- 

 tory of this fish, we shall relate in our accounts 

 of the fisheries, either from our own observations, 

 or from such as have been communicated to us 

 from different places : the fullest we have been 

 favored with, is from the late Mr. Potts, of 

 Berwick, to whom the public is indebted for the 

 following very curious history of the salmon 

 fishery on the Tweed. 



At the latter end of the year, or in the month Spawning. 

 of November, the salmon begin to press up the 

 rivers as far as they can reach, in order to 

 spawn ; when that time approaches they search 

 for a place fit for the purpose -, the male and 

 female unite in forming a proper receptacle for 

 it in the sand or gravel, about the depth of 

 eighteen inches ; in this the female deposits her 

 spawn, the male his milt, which they cover care- 

 fully, as it is said, with their tails, for after 

 spawning they are observed to have no skin on 



vol. in. 2 c 



