154 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



Rush to the Giant's Causeway with some company, we had occasion to ford the 

 river Bush, near the sea ; and as the fishermen were going to haul their net, we 

 stopped to see their success : as soon as their dog perceived the men to move, he 

 instantly ran down the river of his own accord, and took post in the middle of it, 

 on some shallows where he could easily run or swim, and in this position he placed 

 himself with all the eagerness and attention so strongly observable in a pointer dog 

 who sets his game : — we were for some time at a loss to comprehend his scheme, 

 but the event satisfied us, and amply justified the prudence of the animal; for the 

 fish, when they feel the net, always endeavour to make directly out to sea. Ac- 

 cordingly, one of the salmon, escaping from the net, rushed down the stream with 

 great velocity towards the ford, where the dog stood to receive them at an advan- 

 tage. A very diverting chase now commenced, in which, from the shallowness of 

 the water, we could discern the whole track of the fish, with all its rapid turnings 

 and windings. After a smart pursuit, the dog found himself left considerably 

 behind, in consequence of the water deepening, by which he had been reduced to 

 the necessity of swimming. But instead of following this desperate game any 

 longer, he gave it over, and ran with all his speed directly down the river till he 

 was sure of being again seaward of the salmon, where he took post as before in his 

 pointer's attitude. Here the fish a second time met him, and a fresh pursuit 

 ensued, in which, after various attempts, the salmon at last made its way out to 

 sea, notwithstanding all the ingenious and vigorous exertions of its pursuer. 

 Though the dog did not succeed at this time, yet I was informed that it was no 

 unusual thing for him to run down his game ; and the fishermen assured me that 

 he was a very great advantage to them in turning the fish towards the net. During 

 the whole of the chase, this sagacious animal seemed plainly to have two objects 

 in view; one to seize his game, if possible, and the other to drive it towards the 

 net when the former failed ; each of which he managed with a degree of address 

 and ingenuity extremely interesting and amazing*." 



I have been able to procure only four specimens of the American salmon. The 

 first one, described below, was taken from a tierce of salted fish, which a fish- 

 monger assured me was imported from Quebec. The colours of the skin were 

 remarkably well preserved by the salt, and the specimen, which had been split along 

 the back with a sharp knife, was easily restored to its original form. It had then 

 a very perfect resemblance to a British salmon of the same size. Three other 

 specimens were prepared for me at the instance of James Keith, Esq., of La Chine, 



* Rev. W. Hamilton, Hist, of the Basaltes on the Coast of Antrim, &c. 1784. (Pinck. Coll., iii., p. 877.) 



