Osmerus. FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS. 181 



Length from 13 to 24 inches ; weight from 3 to 6 pounds. Colour, above, 

 duskv-green, with numerous large, subcruciibrm spots. Belly silvery, the 

 sides" frequently with a yellow tinge. The head is large and blunt, and the 

 body tapers little behind the tail. "" The tongue usually with 5 teeth on each 

 side*. D. 13, P. 13, V. 10, A. 10, C 40 — This fish differs from the former 

 n the clumsiness of its shape, its larger and more numerous spots ; in the 

 mouth having more teeth ; and in the lateness of its migration from the sea. 

 The sea-trout enters rivers in the spring and summer months, while the grey 

 is seldom observed before the end of July. I have taken four young herrings 

 from its stomach, each upwards of 3 inches in length. 



aa Stationary in rivers. 



47. S Fario. Common Trout. — Body with red spots on 

 the lateral line. Tail slightly forked. 



Trutta fluviatilis, Sibb. Scot. 25. Will. Ich. 199 — S. F. Linn. Syst. i. 



509. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 297 — W, Brithyll ; G, Breac — In rivers 



and lakes. 

 Length about a foot. Colour, duskv above, with purple and red spots ; 

 beneath grey. Head blunt. D. 13, P. 13. V. 9, A. 9, C. 25. Flesh white. 

 Devours the eggs of the salmon. "When it feeds on shell-fish, as the Gillaroo 

 Trout of Galway (Phil. Trans, lxiv. p. 116 — Sowerby, Brit. Misc. tab. lxi.), 

 the coats of the stomach acquire a thickness like the gizzard of birds — In 

 the river Eynion in Cardiganshire, the trout are crooked, immediately above 

 the tail. 



Gen. XXII.— OSMERUS. Smelt.— The first dorsal fin 

 placed more remote from the head than the ventrals. Gill- 

 flap of eight rays. 



48. O. Eperlanus. — Lower jaw longest ; back greenish- white, 

 sides varied with blue, belly silvery ; head translucent. 



Experlanus, Merr. Pin. 188 — Eperlanus, Will. Ich. 202. — Osmerus 

 radiis pinse ani septendecem, Artedi, Ich. Syn. 21 — Salmo Ep. Linn. 

 Syst. i. 511. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 313. — S. Spirlin — In the sea and 

 estuaries. 



Length from 9 to 12 inches. Tail forked ; scales small, deciduous. D. 11, 

 P. 12, "V. 8, A. 14, C. 19. Emits a particular scent, which has been com- 

 pared to violets, cucumbers or rushes. This fish enters the estuaries from 

 the sea in the beginning of winter, spawns in March, near the junction of 

 the river with the salt water. In the Tay its principal food is the shrimp. 



Gen. XXIII. COREGONUS.— Minute teeth on the jaws, 

 none on the tongue or palate. Tail forked. 



49. C. Thymallus. Grayling. — Scales in regular rows ; 

 grey, with longitudinal dusky blue lines. 



Umbra fluviatilis, Merr. Pin. 189 Thymallus, Will. Ich. 187 Cor. 



maxilla superiore longiore, pinna dorsi ossiculorum viginti trium, Art. 

 Ich. Syn. 20 — Salmo Th. Linn. Syst. i. 512. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 

 311. Don. Brit. Fishes, tab. lxxxviii.— In the sea, and clear and 

 rapid streams. 



