568 TELEOSTEI 



CHAP. 



adhesiveness, and the fact that the ova fall into the abdominal 

 cavity, out of which they may easily be squeezed, renders artificial 

 impregnation particularly easy, and the species of Salmo have 

 always occupied the first place in the annals of fish-culture. 

 Fertilised eggs are transported in ice, the development being 

 simply suspended for several weeks, and several forms of British 

 and American Salmonidae have thus been introduced into New 

 Zealand and Tasmania, where some have thoroughly established 

 themselves. 



The White-Fish, Coregonus, are more numerous in species than 

 Salmo, and as a rule more readily defined. They are easily 

 recognised by their large silvery scales and their smaller mouth 

 without or with minute teeth. Some, like the Houting (C. 

 oxyrhynchus) of Northern Europe, occur in the sea, entering 



FIG. 344. Capelin ( Mallotus villosus. ) J nat. size. (After Valenciennes.) 



rivers to spawn, whilst others, like the Sik, Weiss, Felchen, or 

 Lavaret (C. lavaretus), are confined to lakes. British species are 

 the Gwyniad (C. clupeoides), of Loch Lomond, Haweswater, Ulls- 

 water, and Bala, the Vendace (C. vandesius), of Loch Maben, and 

 the Pollan (C. pollan} of Lough Neagh in Ireland. 



The Grayling (Thymallus vulgaris or veosillifer), with its high 

 dorsal fin formed of about 20 rays, one of the handsomest British 

 fishes, inhabits the rivers and lakes of Northern and Central 

 Europe, and is represented by a few allied species in Asia and 

 North America. It derives its name from having the odour of 

 thyme. 



The Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) breeds in salt water, and 

 although it often enters rivers, it does not ascend beyond tidal 

 influence. The Capelin (Mallotus villosus}, of the coasts of Arctic 

 America and North-eastern Asia, deposits its eggs in the sand 

 along the shores in incredible numbers, the beach becoming a 



