^30 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



SPECIES I. 



SALMO GROENLANDICUS, 



OR 



THE GREENLAND SALMON. 



The length of this species is about seven inches, which it 

 very rarely exceeds; shape lengthened, contracting some- 

 what suddenly towards the tail ; the dorsal fin is placed in 

 the middle of the back; fins rather large for the size of the 

 fish; small scales, forked tail, colour pale green, with a 

 tinge of brown above ; abdomen and sides silvery ; in the 

 male fish just above the lateral is a rough fascia, beset with 

 minute pyramidal scales, standing upright like the pile of a 

 shag. The use of this villous line is highly singular, since 

 it is affirmed that while the fish is swimming, and even 

 when thrown ashore, two, three, or even as many as ten 

 will adhere, as if glued together, by means of this pile, so 

 that if one is captured the rest may be also taken at the 

 same time. This species swarms off the coasts of Green- 

 land, Iceland, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia, and it is 

 said to form part of the food of the Greenlanders. The 

 inhabitants of Iceland dry it in great quantities, in order to 

 reserve it as winter food to their cattle, whose flesh is apt 

 to acquire an oily flavour in consequence. This fish lives 

 in the sea the greatest part of the year ; but in April, May, 

 June, and July, they come into the bays in immense shoals, 

 where great multitudes are taken in nets, and afterwards 

 are dried on the rocks. When fresh they are by some 

 zoologists said to have the smell of a cucumber, though 



