PISCES— S MELT... GRAYLING. 



731 



THE SMELT' 



Inhabits the northern seas, and is never found so far south as the Mediter- 

 ranean. Its name is supposed to be a contraction of " smell it," from its 

 very agreeable smell. The Germans, however, call it the stink-fish. Its 

 form is very elegant; it is of a silvery color, tinged with yellow; and the 

 skin is almost transparent. The largest we have heard of was thirteen 

 inches long, and weighed half a pound. 



THE GRAYLINGS 





Is in general of a fine silvery gray, but when just taken it is varied slightly 

 with blue and gold. The scales are large ; the first dorsal fin consists of 

 twenty-one rays; this fin is spotted; all the rest are plain; the tail is much 

 forked. It haunts clear and rapid streams, particularly those of mountain- 

 ous countries. In Lapland, where it is very common, the inhabitants use 

 its entrails, instead of rennet, to make their cheese from the milk of the 

 /ein-deer. The stomach is so hard and thick, that to the touch it appears like 

 cartilage. The largest that has been heard of was taken near Ludlow; it 

 was half a yard long, and weighed four pounds six ounces. The ancients 

 believed that the oil from them would obliterate freckles and small pox 

 marks. 



1 Osmcrus eperlanus, Cuv. The characteristics of this genus are the mouth at the ex- 

 tremity of the snout ; head compressed ; scales scarcely visible ; two dorsal fins ; two 

 rows of scattered teeth on each palatine bone ; bronchial membrane with eight rays. 



2 Coregonus thymallus, Cuv. This genus has the mouth at the extremity of the snout 

 very little cleft ; head compressed ; scales large ; two dorsal fins, of which the second is 

 adipose, and without rays ; bronchial membrane with seven or eight ravs ; teeth small. 



