Chap. XII. 
FISHES. 
furies is very severe. They also use their lateral spines 
with such fatal effect, that I have seen one during a 
battle absolutely rip his opponent quite open, so that 
he sank to the bottom and died.” When a fish is 
conquered, his gallant bearing forsakes him ; his gay 
colours fade away; and he hides his disgrace among 
his peaceable companions, but is for some time the 
constant object of his conqueror’s persecution.” 
The male salmon is as pugnacious as the little stickle- 
back; and so is the male trout, as I hear from Dr. 
Gunther. Mr. Shaw saw a violent contest between two 
male salmons which lasted the whole day ; and Mr. R. 
Buist, Superintendent of Fisheries, informs me that he 
has often watched from the bridge at Perth the males 
driving away their rivals whilst the females were spawn- 
ing. The males are constantly fighting and tearing 
each other on the spawning-beds, and many so injure 
each other as to cause the death of numbers, many 
being seen swimming near the banks of the river in 
a state of exhaustion, and apparently in a dying 
state.” ^ The keeper of the Stormontfield breeding- 
ponds visited, as Mr. Buist informs me, in June, 1868, 
the northern Tyne, and found about 300 dead salmon, 
all of which Avith one exception were males ; and he ivas 
convinced that they had lost their lives by fighting. 
The most curious point about the male salmon is 
that during the breeding-season, besides a slight change 
in colour, the lower jaw elongates, and a cartilaginous 
projection turns upwards from the point, Avhich, when 
the jaAvs are closed, occupies a deep cavity between 
^ ‘The Field/ June 29tli, 1867. For Mr. Shaw’s statement, see 
‘ Edinburgh Keview,’ 1843. Another experienced observer (Scroj)e’s 
‘ Days of Salmon Fishing,’ p, 60) remarks that the male would, if he 
could, keep, like the stag, all other males away. 
B 2 
