THE SALMON FAMILY. 281 



ported. This support they seek to obtain by placing them- 

 selves amongst gravel or in crevices between stones, exhi- 

 biting generally a great desire to escape observation — an 

 instinct given to them no doubt for their preservation 

 during so feeble and helpless a condition. On the disap- 

 pearance, however, of the yolk-bag they come from their 

 hiding-places, and are to be found, on careful search, in the 

 streams in or near which the old Salmon had deposited 

 their spawn during the preceding winter. " Early in 

 April," says Mr. Shaw, " I discovered them in one of these 

 streams, but so young and weak, owing to their very recent 

 emergence from the spawning-bed, as to be unable to 

 struggle with the current where it flowed with any strength 

 or rapidity. They therefore betook themselves to the 

 gentler eddies, and frequently into the small hollows pro- 

 duced in the shingle by the hoofs of horses which had 

 passed the ford. In these comparatively quiet places, and 

 covered by a slight current of a few inches in depth, they 

 continued, with their little tails in constant motion, until 

 my near approach was perceived, when they immediately 

 darted beneath the stones. They remain, with these habits 

 and in the situations just mentioned, during the months of 

 April, May, and even June ; but as they increase in size 

 and strength they scatter themselves all over the shallower 

 parts of the river, especially wherever the bottom is com- 

 posed of fine gravel. They continue, in truth, compara- 

 tively unobserved throughout the first summer, being sel- 

 dom taken by the angler during that season." 



