THE SALMON. ' 281 



red, those on the head and gill-covers being particularly 

 brilliant, and disposed in lines almost like the markings of 

 a Labrus. In this full breeding dress, the male and fe- 

 male seek some ford or shallow streams, and commence to 

 excavate a trench or furrow. In this the spawn is deposit- 

 ed and impregnated at the same time, and finally covered 

 with gravel by the exertions of the fish. The furrow is 

 generally from six to nine inches in depth, and when the 

 spawn has appeared to be covered beyond that depth, this 

 has occurred from some other circumstances, such as the 

 stream or floods having carried downwards additional 

 masses of gravel, &c. After this great effort has been ac- 

 complished, both sexes are reduced to a state of remarkable 

 emaciation. The elongated nose, and hooked jaw, and the 

 brilliant colours, are almost immediately lost, the old scales 

 are cast, and the fish retire to some pool to regain their 

 strength. They finally redescend to the sea by easy stages, 

 where their former condition and silvery lustre are regained,* 

 their strength invigorated, and all their functions so re- 

 paired as to enable them ere long to renew their visit to the 

 flowing streams, again to multiply their race. ,1 f 



Thespawnis shed in different rivers, sooneror later, between 

 the month of October and the end of April, and continues 

 covered by the gravel from about a hundred to a hundred 

 and fourteen days, after which it begins to vivify ; and it is 

 probable, under certain circumstances, such as the tempera- 

 ture of the water and the mildness of the season, that the 

 ova may become developed much sooner, or within a few 

 weeks after their deposition. The spawn, if deposited in 

 the commencement of October, will exclude the young dur- 



* Their silvery lustre is frequently regained before they reach the sea. 

 + Encyclopaedia Brilannica. 



