THE SALMON. 279 



I 



the last the shortest, about half the length of the fourth. Eye placed 

 half way between the point of the snout and the upper corner of the 

 gill-cover ; mouth large ; maxillaries extending back, as far as in a 

 vertical line with the posterior margin of the orbit. Teeth sharp and 

 stout in both jaws, as well as on the tongue, vomer, and palatines ; 

 those on the vomer but two in number, confined to the most ante- 

 rior part ; those on the tongue four (never exceeding six, sometimes 

 only one). Scales on the body large and thin, about 120 forming 

 the lateral line ; in an oblique backward row, between the middle 

 of the dorsal fin and lateral line twenty-one scales; between the middle 

 of the anal fin and lateral line in an oblique row fourteen scales. Late- 

 ral line straight throughout its course, dividing the body, in the re- 

 gion of the dorsal and ventral fins, into two equal parts ; csecal ap- 

 pendages sixty-two, seldom or never less than fifty-eight. Number 

 of fin rays — 



1st D. 12 ; P. 13 ; V. 9 ; A. 10 ; C. 19; "Vertebrae 60." 



The'Salmo salar is the largest species of the Salmonidae, 

 and is said to attain sometimes the weight of eighty pounds 

 or more, but one of half that size in the present age is con- 

 sidered worthy of notice, the average size being from 

 eighteen to twenty pounds in weight. " The common sal- 

 mon inhabits the seas around Great Britain, and extends to 

 the north of Europe and to Asia, but if is not properly as- 

 certained that those found in North America are identical. 

 There is no doubt that the true abode of the salmon is the 

 sea, for as soon as it has entered the rivers, it begins to de- 

 teriorate in condition, the scales lose their brilliant silvery 

 lustre, and the flesh becomes soft and pale ; and that they 

 are drawn to the fresh waters by a natural instinct widely 

 implanted by Almighty power^ for the purpose of repro- 

 duction, an instinct which enables them to stem the cur- 

 rent of the most rapid waters, to ascend precipitous falls, 

 and to pass through weirs and other obstacles of human 

 art, which no other power could overcome. The necessity 

 of a suitable place being found, in which to deposit their 

 ova, together with the advantage of destroying the marine 

 insects, which infest and torment them, is the principal pur- 



