68 BRITISH SPORTING FISH. 



willing to take a bait if judiciously offered. This 

 author, who has supplied a very fair history of the 

 fish, considered that it might be taken at all times 

 of the year, and that when there were flies in the 

 water it would generally rise to them. 

 '' The specimen from which the illustration is 

 taken, was a beautiful Teme fish about a pound and 

 a half in weight. Its proportions were : — The 

 total length of the head, body, and tail-fin, being 

 considered as 5^, the length of the head alone 

 as one. Depth of body for about half its length 

 slightly greater than the length of head ; tail forked. 

 Number of scales in lateral line, 27. 



Further Cliaractcristics cf flic Grayling (as found in a speci- 

 men 10 inches long). — Head small and pK)inted, flattened at 

 the top. Between point of nose and commencement of first 

 back-fin equal to one-third entire length, tail-fin rays excluded. 

 Back-fin very long at the base, nearly equal to twice the length 

 of its longest ray ; pectoral fins long, narrow, and pointed ; 

 ventral fins commencing directly under centre of back-fin ; 

 final fin commencing halfway between origin of ventral fins and 

 fleshy part of tail. Opening of mouth when viewed in front 

 squarish ; teeth small, numerous, and curved ; none on tongue, 

 and only a few on end of vomer, or central bone in roof of 

 mouth, and on the adjoining ends of the bones of the palate, 

 situated in single rows on the jaws. Profile of back slightly 

 convex, that of belly nearly straight. Scales large, seven in an 

 oblique row above the lateral line. Vertebrae 58. Colour : sides 

 marked with about 15 dusky longitudinal bands or bars; the 

 general hue becomes darker with age, and about the spawning- 

 season the pectoral fins are reddish with small black spots : for 

 further remarks on colouring see p. 65. 



