414 pisces. 



into two lamellas, between which lies a fleshy substance that surrounds 

 the nerve in a serpentine manner. The nerve passes through the 

 whole, and would seem to be flattened and broadened, like the head of 

 a nail. The optic nerve through its whole length is a continuation of 

 the substance of the brain, and is a very different substance from the 

 retina. 



It has two nostrils on each side, close together, only divided by a thin 

 partition ; they are placed just before the eye. One orifice [in each 

 nasal sac] answers to the anterior nostril, the other to the posterior one. 



Spawning of the Salmon. 



" River Itching, near Southampton. 



" Information from the fishermen. The salmon in this river begin 

 to come from the sea in the middle and end of May ; and are generally 

 all returned again to it by the middle or end of July. They spawn in 

 June, and almost all of them go as far up the water to deposit it as they 

 possibly can. They deposit their spawn in pits made in sand or gravel. 

 They (the fishermen) believe that they cover as much of the spawn as 

 they can ; and think also that only the parts so covered are vivified. 

 The pit is made by the female, and the spawn covered by the male, who 

 is sometimes so exhausted as to die in or soon after the operation. 



" The young are divided into three kinds : first, the < fry ;' second, the 

 ' smelt ;' and third, the ' peal;' to these is added a fourth, called a 

 'bouge:' this is supposed to be a mule got between a salmon and 

 trout ; it is never found above 8 lbs. weight, and they suppose it inca- 

 pable of propagating. The reason for supposing it to be from the 

 connexion mentioned, is, by its having red spots upon its sides and 

 belly, and in other respects like the salmon. 



" The young salmon are first observed about Michaelmas, and remain 

 in the river till the season following, when they return with the old 

 fish to the sea ; and the season following that they return again to the 

 river to propagate. They never call the young a salmon until their 

 weight is 8 lbs. The spawn they suppose to be devoured by the eel, jack, 

 and birds ; the last, particularly the cormorant, destroys vast quantities 

 of the fry. 



" The eels in the same river begin to run in March, and return 

 in November. They are often found with spawn in their belly ; but 

 where or when they deposit it is not known. Young eels are often 

 found in the mud earlier in spring. The congers are, also, frequently 

 found in this river ; they differ from the eel in size and colour, the last 

 of which in them is in general much lighter ; they have also a larger 

 jaw and mouth, and are more ravenous than the eel. 



