PISHES. 
271 
stragglers, and make a savoury morsel of these Lilliputian 
truants. Indeed, the greater number of the whole brood 
must have fallen a prey to their voracity, as it was only 
some three or four that reached a size to place them be- 
yond the power of their destroyers.” * 
Some of our fishes perform long migrations in order to 
deposit their spawn. The Salmon, for instance, ascends 
rocky rivers from the sea, overcoming various barriers, 
and leaping up Cascades, to accomplish its purpose, with 
indomitable perseverance and energy. The Eel, on the 
other hand, descends rivers to spawn in the brackish 
waters of estuaries, displaying equal determination. Of 
this a curious example is said to occur annually in the 
vicinity of Bristol. 
Near that city there is a large pond, immediately ad- 
joining which is a stream. On the bank between these 
two waters a large tree grows, the branches of which hang 
into the pond. By means of these branches the young 
Eels ascend into the tree, and from thence let themselves 
drop into the stream bolow, thus migrating to far distant 
waters, where they increase in size, and become useful and 
beneficial to man. A casual witness of this circumstance 
remarked that the tree appeared to be quite alive with 
these little animals. The rapid and unsteady motion of 
the boughs did not appear to impede their progress. 
Did space permit, we could furnish many entertaining 
details of manners in this Class of animals, in their various 
modes of taking prey; but we must content ourselves 
with one. An interesting example of what we may be 
allowed to call skill, is afforded by the instincts of some 
* “Annals ol'Nut. Hist.” Nov. 1S55. 
