Hi- 



ed, coiiical sliM|ie: hut in old iiiides this |irof(_'ss is 

 ;icci)in|iiuii('d ])y ;i depression iti fVunt, tlic iiitcniiMxil- 

 );ir\" hones heini;' ])artpd from each othcT, and the inr- 

 dian I'egion (if tlie jiru'nasa! ]>art lieini;' liollnwccl un(h'r- 

 neath or even perforated, to reecivc the tip of tiie 

 ln)(il< simnltaneouslj' formed 1)V an upward growth nf 

 indurated connective tissue from tile point of tiie lower 

 JMw. Tlicse old males are known in popular language 

 h\ the name of krakhixar (Hook Salmon, the French 

 hiiard, Sdlmo //diiialKs, see aI)ove). 



Not onl\- have these males with their singular 

 snout — the function of \vhich is not yet known" — 

 Keen regarded as a distinct species, but the same rank 

 1 1 IS also l)een conferred, for their short snout and pe- 

 culiar coloration, on the two stages of growth follow- 

 ing next after the frv, the Parrs (Salmo salmidus) and 

 the Foreller or so-called Common Trout (Salmo fiirio). 



Even in early youth the ground-colour of the 

 Salmons varies according to the colour and light of 

 their environments. v. Wkigut's iigure (Plate XL, 

 fig. 1 ) represents a young specimen some months old 

 as it appears during the assumption of the dress \\hich 

 is more fully developed in the Parr stage. 



The dress of the Parrs is described at length liy 

 Fries (1. c), from the coloration of the Salmon fry in 

 NorrkSping River: "The top of the head and the back 

 are olive-green, with dark, round, stellate spots and 

 patches along the back. These small, dark spots ex- 

 tend in front down to the lateral line; but from the 

 neighbourhood of the dorsal tin to the caudal they 

 terminate half-way between the dorsal edge and the 

 lateral line. The belly is white with a dash of yellow. 

 The sides are of a handsome light yellow shading 

 into red. Along the lateral line lie N or 9 small, 

 round orange spots and the same numljcr'' of large 

 and oval, bluish patches, set transversely and crossed 

 half-way up by the lateral line. These patches (the 



so-called Parr markings) alternate witii the orange 

 spots'. .'Miove each eye is an arch of 4 round, dark 

 spots, and further back, Ijetween these arelies, are 3 

 similar spots, set in a triangle; but all these markings 

 may be more or less distinct, and they show some 

 variation. N'ery constant, on the other hand, are the 

 two round, black s])ots that adoi'n the gill-c(jvers, 

 though their size and position vai-y. In most cases 

 one of them is situated at the centre of the operculum, 

 the other in front of the preoperculum, just behind 

 the eye. Sometimes traces of a third spot may bc^ 

 detected at the very margin of the operculum. The 

 dorsal fin is of a light olive green, with one distinct 

 and one less prominent and irregular row of dark spots, 

 the former at the bottom, rpiite near the ])as(! and 

 parallel to the back, the latter along the middle of the 

 tin. The anterior corner shades into flame-yellow, 

 marked off by a dark gray band, which starts from 

 the tip of the second simple raj' and runs in a straight 

 line to that of the fourth branched ray''. The adipose 

 fin wears the olive-green colour of the back, with yel- 

 lowish tip. The caudal fin is olive-green, tinged with 

 yellow, edged witli flame-yellow above, below, and, 

 less distinctly, behind. The anal fin is of a dirty yel- 

 low, with the outer part of the anterior margin lighter, 

 and with an indistinct gra}- band obliquely across the 

 anterior corner. The pectoral fins are olive-green Avith 

 a darker band across the middle. The ventrals are 

 similar in colour and markings to the anal fin. The 

 pupil is rounded and very large in the living fish, but 

 after some exposure to the atmosphere it assumes a 

 triangular shape. The flesh is white, without red 

 tinge." 



During the Forell stage the two varieties differ 

 more widely from each other, for the young Salmon 

 make their way to the sea as early as possible, and 

 when this instinct begins to awaken, thej' gradually 



" Many coDJecturcs liave been made cm tliis lieait. Some liave supposed tliat the liook is a kind of spade or tlirusting apparatus to 

 bo used in working holes to receive the eggs. But, so far as is known, the female is at least more active tlian the male in this operation. 

 Others have thought it to be a hook with which the male holds the female fast while spawning. But the most trustworthy observers have 

 seen the spawning performed witliout its assistance. Others, again, have suggested that it is n protective organ, to prevent the males from 

 inflicting too severe injuries on their rivals in the breeding-season. But such means of protection seem far from natural. The least violent 

 explanation appears to be that the hook is an essentially pathological appearance, characteristic of age, but produced bj- the irritation caused 

 by blows on the snout, both during combats and in leaping over obstacles. 



' Sometimes, however, as many as 1.5. 



'■ The ground-colour of the sides generally grows lighter round the I'arr markings, at least along their lower m^irgin, thus rendering 

 llicin still more prominent. 



■* Cf. the analogous marking (the corner pure white and the stripe black) on the dorsal fin of Trout Parrs, according to .Jakpink, 

 British Salmo/iida, pi. XI. 



ficondinaeinn Fishes. 108 



