it is then in a soft state, covered only with a mucous membrane, and
conceals itself in holes in the sand or under weeds; at this place a hard
shelled crab always stands centinel, to prevent the sea insects from
injuring the other in its defenceless state; and the fishermen from his
appearance know where to find the soft ones, which they use for baits in
catching other fish.

And though the hard shelled crab, when he is on this duty, advances boldly
to meet the foe, and will with difficulty quit the field; yet at other
times he shews great timidity, and has a wonderful speed in attempting his
escape; and, if often interrupted, will pretend death like the spider, and
watch an opportunity to sink himself into the sand, keeping only his eyes
above. My ingenious friend Mr. Burdett, who favoured me with these accounts
at the time he was surveying the coasts, thinks the commerce between the
sexes takes place at this time, and inspires the courage of the creature.

5. The shoals of herrings, cods, haddocks, and other fish, which approach
our shores at certain seasons, and quit them at other seasons without
leaving one behind; and the salmon, that periodically frequent our rivers,
evince, that there are vagrant tribes of fish, that perform as regular
migrations as the birds of passage already mentioned.

6. There is a cataract on the river Liffey in Ireland about nineteen feet
high: here in the salmon season many of the inhabitants amuse themselves in
observing these fish leap up the torrent. They dart themselves quite out of
the water as they ascend, and frequently fall back many times before they
surmount it, and baskets made of twigs are placed near the edge of the
stream to catch them in their fall.

I have observed, as I have sat by a spout of water, which descends from a
stone trough about two feet into a stream below, at particular seasons of
the year, a great number of little fish called minums, or pinks, throw
themselves about twenty times their own length out of the water, expecting
to get into the trough above.

This evinces that the storgee, or attention of the dam to provide for the
offspring, is strongly exerted amongst the nations of fish, where it would
seem to be the most neglected; as these salmon cannot be supposed to
attempt so difficult and dangerous a task without being conscious of the
purpose or end of their endeavours.

It is further remarkable, that most of the old salmon return to the sea
before