6o THE SPORTING FISH 



and four below — two of the upper rows extending along the 

 vomer. Origin of back-fin halfway between point of nose and 

 commencement of upper tail-fin rays ; third ray of back-fin 

 longest, and equal to length of base of fin ; small back-fin half- 

 way between last ray of large back-fin and end of tail-fin, and 

 directly over origin of last ray of anal fin. Fins generally rather 

 small and muscular. Colours when in season : upper parts and 

 back-fin deep purplish brown, changing into reddish grey, and 

 thence into fine orange on breast and belly ; whole body when 

 fresh out of water as if glazed over with a tint of rich lake- 

 colour. Gill-covers and back-fin marked with large dark spots, 

 and whole body covered with markings of different sizes and 

 varying in number in different individuals, being sometimes 

 scattered and of large size, and at others thickly set and of 

 small dimensions. Each spot surrounded by a paler ring occa- 

 sionally of a reddish hue. Spots becoming more scattered 

 below lateral line ; none on belly. Pectoral, ventral, and anal 

 fins yellowish green, darker towards the e.xtremities. Tail of 

 great breadth and power — broader than greatest depth of body, 

 slightly forked when young, becoming square with age ; in very 

 old fish slightly convex. Pyloric ca;ca from 34 to 49 in num- 

 ber. Scales thin and flexible, different in form from those of 

 the Trout, and more circular than those of any of the migra- 

 tory species. 



Fin-rays in specimen \ 

 from Loch Awe : ) 



D. 13: P; 14: V. 9: A. II : C. 19. 



In specimens from Lough Neagh, one ray less in D., P., and 

 A. fins, and one ray more in C. fin. 



The only remaining British representatives of 

 the genus Sabno^ — viz., the Charrs — being, hke 

 the fcrox, exchisively inhabitants of Lakes, may 

 appropriately receive in this connection a few 

 words for the sake of completeness ; although, 



' Or true Salmon and Trout species. 



