SALMON TROUT. 215 



This fish feeds on the Launce, Avhich, unfortunately for 

 themselves, are a favourite diet with all the migrating kinds of 

 the Salmon family. But they feed also on crustacean animals, 

 and even on some species of confervas, or river weeds. In the 

 river they are taken with the worm and fly; although, as being 

 the Fordidge Trout, of which an account is given by Izaak 

 Walton, its taking a bait in the river is strongly questioned, 

 and this patriarch of angling was not in the habit of fishing 

 w^ith a fly. He represents the flesh of this species to be 

 decidedly white, but Mr, Jenyns says its colour is red: all 

 agree in its being highly valued at table. 



The Salmon Trout might be mistaken for the Salmon in 

 some of its varieties, as well from its size in comparison with 

 the ordinary growth of the latter, as its general shape; and yet 

 in its aspect there appears a marked difference between them. 

 This species is comparatively stouter, and carries its bulk more 

 closely to the tail. The front also appears sharper; the gape 

 scarcely so large; eyes somewhat larger and nearer the snout. 

 Teeth in the vomer in a longer row, and not so prone to be 

 shed with the advance of ase. Border of the srill- covers more 

 produced above the pectoral fin, which fin is also more pointed; 

 dorsal more extended, its first rays scarcely so far advanced; 

 ventrals more pointed; as are the first rays of the anal, and 

 also proportionally longer than the following rays. According 

 to jSIt. Yarrell, the articulation at the base of the last dorsal 

 fin ray is exactly half-way between the point of the nose and 

 end of the tail, but I find it a little nearer the head; the 

 anterior edge of the adipose fin half-way between the base of 

 the last ray of the dorsal fin and the end of the tail. Colour 

 of the upper parts and tail dark, with a tinge of blue; with, 

 in the example described, some broad patches at the beginning 

 of the back, of a lighter colour; a tinge of pink on the cheeks 

 and along the sides; whitish with a tinge of yellow below; a 

 green dash behind the eyes; a strong tinge of red on the adipose 

 fin. Some rather small shot-like spots on the gill-covers; many 

 irregular crossed marks along the sides; ventral fins very light. 



In a fish of this species from Sweden the rays of the dorsal 

 fin were fifteen, of which the first was very short, the third 

 the longest; anal twelve, the two last from one root; ventral 

 nine, caudal twenty, pectoral fifteen. 



