40 



COMMON SALMON. 



order to arrive at the spots proper for this purpose 

 there are scarce any obstacles which the lish 

 will not surmount. They will ascend rivers* for 

 hundreds of miles ; force themselves against the 

 most rapid streams, and spring with amazing 

 agility over cataracts of several feet in height. 

 They are taken, according to Mr. Pennant, in 

 the Rhine as high as Basil : they gain the sources 

 of the Lapland rivers, in spite of their torrent-like 

 currents : they surpass the perpendicular falls of 

 Leixlip f, Kennerth J, and Pont-Aberglastyn || . At 

 the latter of these places Mr. Pennant assures us 

 that he has himself witnessed the efforts of the 

 Salmon, and seen scores of fish, some of which 

 succeeded, while others miscarried in the attempt 

 during the time of his observation. It may be 

 added, tlmt the Salmon, like the Swallow, is said to 

 return each season to the self-same spot to deposit 

 its spawn. This has been ascertained by the ex- 

 periments of Monsr. De la Lande, who fastening a 

 small ring of copper to the tails of some individuals, 

 and then setting them at liberty, found that some 

 of them made their appearance in the same place 

 for tliree succeeding seasons §. The experiment 

 of fastening gold or silver rings to Salmon is said 

 by Dr. Bloch to have been occasionally practised 

 by some of the Eastern princes, and it is added 

 that by this method a communication has been 



* Brit Zoology. f Near Dublin. 



J On the Tivy in S. Wales. || Amid Snowdon hills. 



§ So Moiisr. De la Lande was assured by the fishermen. 



