have its limitation; but it would, I believe, be difficult to assign its limits, or to discover an instance where it fails under admissible circumstances. I know but of two cases wherein salmon can be prevented from ascending rivers which they frequent in furtherance of that great and imperious duty which nature imposes on them, and these are when the stream is made to pass through apertures too small for the admission of the fish, or when it does not descend over a fall, without regard to its height, in a sufficiently consolidated and unbroken mass to allow of the salmon swimming up it. After accomplishing the great object of their journey into the fresh water, the salmon again descend to the ocean, but so shrunk and wasted by their detention in the rivers, where there is either no proper or no sufficiency of food for them, as scarcely to retain a third of their original weight. The spawn is deposited in holes purposely made in beds of gravel, and covered with successive layers of the same materials; and as it becomes animated each individual liberates and provides for itself. Their growth is singularly rapid, arriving at six or eight inches in length early in spring, at which season, the whole, then become immensely numerous, follow the old fish by descending with floods to the sea. In Cumberland is pursued a very singular species of aqueous salmon hunting, which is not, I believe, practised in any other part of the kingdom. On the flat coasts of the sea, and adjacent to the mouths of the rivers, as the tide retires, some of the fish remain in the shallow water, that is in water two or three feet in depth. They can be readily perceived at some distance, from the swell of water which rises over them when in motion. A man mounted on a horse accustomed to the sport, and grasping a spear made for the purpose, advances towards the fish, and as soon as the latter has discovered its pursuer, and is making off, a complete chase takes place between the horseman and the salmon. As soon as the man finds himself nearly up with his game, the spear is thrown with such force and dexterity as seldom to miss, and the salmon, entangled with the weight of the spear, soon becomes exhausted. So very powerful is the salmon in water, that were the man to strike it while he grasped the spear in his hand, he would instantly, and inevitably, be dragged from the horse. SIR, OBSERVATIONS ON THE LEECH WORM. To the Editor of the Philosophical Magazine. SOME years ago my attention was directed to make observations on the leech-worm, as a weatherglass. These were published in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1804; since which period I have had many opportunities of noticing several parti Bawtry, Nov. 5, 1809. culars respecting them. These are here committed to paper, to stimulate the curious to an inquiry into the cause of this phenomenon. If these observations should tend to the object in view, and be worth the perusal of the publick, you will be 3. When the leech gallops through its limpid habitation with swiftness, it denotes wind, and seldom rests until it blows hard. 4. When the leech lodges almost constantly out of the water, and discovers uncommon uneasiness in vio lent throes and convulsive-like motions, a storm of thunder and rain will succeed. Method of keeping Leeches. 1. Put a few into an eight ounce phial, two thirds full of spring water, with some fine sand or moss at the bottom. As the leeches have no other evacuation but through the pores of the skin, which passes from them in perspirable matter, and adheres to the body in the state of slime, which, if not timely removed, prevents these evacuations, and causes the death of the worm; the use of sand, or moss, is, that it may rub the slime off its body, which afterwards floats in the water. Over the top of the phial tie a piece of leather, pricked full of holes, to admit air. 2. The water must be changed once a week. Spring water is the best. Sometimes it is necessary, when there is a great change of temperature between the water and that contained in the phial, only to put half or two thirds of the fresh to the other. Leeches should be kept in a cool situation in summer, and a rather warm one in winter. 3. The leeches that have been used for bleeding should be kept in a separate phial till they appear perfectly well. Directions for using Leeches in 1. It is necessary to clean the skin any sup 2. When leeches are applied the patient should be in as horizontal a position as possible. Then take a wine or any other glass large enough to give room for the quantity that it is wished to take hold at once, being much better than the fingers; it gives the worms free motion in their circumscribed limits; retains them in their proper place; and ports them from falling. The glass should be reclined on one side to admit a free access of air. The leeches should be chosen large, to answer their purposes the more effectually. When they seem suffi ciently filled, a small portion of salt should be put to their mouths, which will cause them to fall off, being better than taking them with the fingers, as it bruises them. Treatment of the Leeches after they are satiated with Blood. Place the leech on a clean plate; take a little common salt rubbed fine, about the size of a pinch of snuff, and place it in contact with the mouth of the worm. It will remain a short time in a state of torpor, after which it will disgorge * Such as the linimentum saponis, solutio ammoniæ volatilis, &c. on. These observations have occurred in practice; and I am convinced that if they are strictly attended to, the mortality amongst leeches will be much lessened. part of the blood. A little more salt have a clean plate to disgorge itself may then be placed near its mouth, repeating it until it is all disgorged, taking care that no part of the salt touch any other part of its body, which blisters, and is frequently the death of the leech. When the worm returns to its natural size, it may then be put into a basin of water. If it has received no injury it will frisk about and appear lively; if sickly it will sink to the bottom. Should this be the case, place it in a separate phial till well. Every leech should N. B. Those who wish to use a leech as a weather-glass should choose one that has not been used for bleeding; for after they have been used they are frequently sickly and will bury themselves in the sand for days together. From "Oriental Field Sports." By T. Williamson. TIGERS very rarely make their attacks on open plains, though instances have occured, within my own knowledge, where they have proceeded half a mile, or more, from a cover, and made dreadful havock among travellers and peasants; acting as if intent on destruction only. We must not conclude that such conduct is in their ordinary course of practice; but may, no doubt, fairly attribute such a deviation from the marked character of the animal to momentary anguish, or to resentment induced by an unsuccessful skirmish with one of its own species: when, being chased from the jungles, the defcated party bends its course towards any living object, teeming with revenge, and eager to give loose to its rage: for I have already observed, that the tiger is of all beasts of prey the most cowardly. Its treacherous disposition induces it, almost without exception, to conceal itself until its prey may arrive within reach of its spring, be its victim either bulky or diminutive. Size seems to occasion no deviation in the tiger's system of attack, which is founded on the art of surprising. We find, accordingly, that such as happen to keep the opposite side of a road, by which they are somewhat beyond the first spring, often escape injury, the tiger being unwilling to be seen before he is felt. Hence it is rarely that a tiger pursues; but, if the situation permit, his cunning will not fail to effect his purpose. He will steal along the road side, among the bushes, parallel with the traveller's course, until one of the many chances which present themselves, of finding him within reach, induces to the attack. Often, where the country is rather too open to allow his proceeding in this manner, the tiger will take a sweep among underwood, or through ravines, in order to meet the traveller again, at a spot whence he may make his spring. Tigers are extremely partial to such sites as command a road, selecting one rather less frequented, in preference to one that is much in use. In the former, they are certain of finding as much as will answer their daily wants. If, however, the haunt be on a publick road, it is usually at some spot with grass or bushes, and in the vicinity of some ample cover, supplied with water, to which the prey can be dragged. There, in some low, opake spot, the sanguinary meal is consummated in gloomy silence. It should be observed, that, for the most part, the tiger chooses his station on that side of the road which is opposite his haunt; so that when he seizes his prey, he proceeds straight forward, without having occasion to turn; and thus drags it across, mostly at a trot. If he misses his aim, he will rarely return, unless attacked, but, in a sullen manner, either sculks through the cover, or, if the country be not sufficiently close to conceal his motions, he moves on at a canter;' a pace in which a tiger appears very awkward; as with him it is not unlike the gait of a large, heavy calf. A large portion of the soil in India is of a reddish hue, and the grass, during the summer heats, being deprived of the sap proper to create a verdure, becomes of a dusky colour, very similar to the brighter parts of a tiger's coat. These circumstances are peculiarly favourable to the animal's concealment; so much so, that a tiger is often roused where there does not exist any cover adequate to sheltering half his bulk; the colour of the animal so perfectly corresponding with the surrounding objects, as to conceal the danger, or, if the animal be seen, he is mistaken for a mound of earth, or something equally innocent. The tiger's fore paw is the invariable engine of destruction. Most persons imagine, that if a tiger were deprived of his claws and teeth he would be rendered harmless; but this is a gross errour; the weight of the limb is the real cause of the mischief; for the talons are rarely extended when a tiger seizes. The operation is similar to that of a hammer; the tiger raising his paw, and bringing it down with such force, as not only to stun a common sized bullock or buffalo, but often crushing the bones of the skull! I have seen many men and oxen that had been killed by tigers, in most of which no mark of a claw could be seen; and where scratches did appear, they were obviously the effect of chance, from the paw sliding downwards and not from design. It often takes some labour for a tiger to remove a bullock he has killed, from any open situation to a safe retreat, where he can glut himself undisturbed; but he will convey away a man with as much ease, and, in the same manner, as a cat drags away a rat. I once witnessed an instance which gave me a very complete idea of a tiger's proceedings, and of his powers. I was travelling post in my palankeen, through the Ramghur district, which is mountainous, and little cultivated, being, for the most part, in a state of nature, and every where abounding in jungles, when a bangy-wollah, who conveyed two baskets of linen and refreshments, and who preceded the palankeen about a hundred and fifty yards, set down his load, and seated himself on the side of the road to rest awhile. About two yards behind him was a small bush, not much larger than a good sized currant tree, round which a small quantity of jungle grass was growing to the height of about three feet; there was not another twig to be seen for at least half a mile, on that side of the road. No sooner had the poor fellow seated himself, than a tiger sprang from behind, or rather from within the bush, and, after giving the fatal blow with his paw, seized the man by the shoulder, and dragged him off with the utmost ease, at a round pace, into a thick cover which had formerly skirted the road, but which had, by order of government, been cut away to the distance of about a hundred yards, for the safety of travel. lers. The most dangerous spots are the crossings of nullahs, where, if there be cover, tigers should ever be expected to lurk. The heat of the climate inducing much thirst, and the habits of the natives being. in various respects much connected with water, cause most travellers are to stop in these situations, where the tiger, with very little trouble, may select such objects for destruction as he may prefer. In such places it sometimes happens, that a man, or a bullock, &c. is carried off daily; yet it will appear extraordinary, that rarely any means adopted for removing the evil, though it is well known that tigers are easily made to quit haunts, if proper measures be resorted to; but it being the business of every body, nobody attends to it, especially as the people of India are predestinarians, and conceive they cannot avoid their respective fates! Nevertheless, we find them having recourse to charms, and to many superstitious devices, to avert danger; a contradiction by no means singular, nor confined to any particular part of the universe. It must appear remarkable, that tigers often quit the most advantageous haunts without the least apparent cause; for as to checking or destroying them, even where practicable, the natives never think of it, except under European influence, and, in many parts of the country, it is impossible to do any thing effectual. I am strongly inclined to think that tigers are peculiarly subject to some acute distemper, which carries off great numbers, or that they have some very powerful enemy, with which we are unacquainted; else, if we admit that a tigress bears two cubs annually, nay, if we calculate that she rears but one in three years, during a period of twelve years, we should find the increase so prodigious, as to leave no chance against being overrun with them in every direction. In some districts, the rewards held forth by government, and by individuals, have, without doubt, produced benefit; but such efforts must be confined to particular spots, and never could affect those immense jungles, stretching along the boundaries of Bengal for at least a thousand miles on each side, and extending, in many places, two or three hundred 1 miles in breadth. These grand depots, in which neither man, horse, nor elephant, can have access, and in which deer, &c. abound, supplying the superiour beasts of prey with ample sustenance, could not fail, but for some powerful curb, to cause such an augmentation, as must, in time, annihilate not only every animal a tiger could destroy, but, ultimately, the tigers themselves must perish with hunger. Tigers are not always to be checked by fire. However popular the opinion may be, and although we may consider it as an axiom, that a tiger may generally be driven away by noise, and especially by fire, yet so many instances are perpetually recurring, where neither the one nor the other has had the desired effect, that we may, perhaps, not be very wrong in judging, that though a tiger, when in a state of satiety, may be easily alarmed, he is not easily repelled by such means, when seriously in want of a meal. Nor on such occasions do we find that numbers operate as a defence. In the year 1792, a merchant who was proceeding by the new road to Calcutta, with a large string of valuable horses for sale, was taken off his steed, as he was going through the Katcumsandy pass, at mid-day, though in the midst of a numerous retinue of servants, and in spite of the noise necessarily attendant on a large cavalcade. The tiger leaped down from a knob at the road's side, covered with small bushes and grass, about ten feet high, and dragged the unfortunate merchant to the opposite side, where, however, he was intimidated by the shouts of the horsemen, who pursued him as closely as they could get their horses to approach. The corpse was on the same day brought to the station at Hazarybhaug, where it was interred. When travellers find themselves benighted, and in camps, where, either from the situation being suspected as abounding with tigers, or |