GEN. SALMO. THE SALMON-TROUT. 131 



The vertebrae are fifty-eight in number. Colour of 

 the upper parts of the body dark bluish-black ; 

 sides lighter; belly, anal, and ventral fins white^ 

 the former silvery. The sides are marked with 

 numerous X-shaped dusky spots, the greater num- 

 ber above the lateral line; and there are several 

 round dusky spots on the gill-cover. 



This valuable Trout, the last we have to mention 

 of the three migratory species of the genus Salmo^ 

 rs extremely abundant in many parts of the country. 

 This is particularly the case in the Don, Tay, Spey, 

 and many other of our Scottish rivers; but they 

 have almost entirely disappeared from the Tweed, 

 where they were once not scarce ; and this, it has 

 been conjectured, is owing to the increase of the 

 Bull Trout in that river. Large shoals congregate 

 near the mouths of rivers, previous to entering 

 them for the purpose of spawning, and on these 

 occasions they frequently afford most excellent sport 

 to the angler. Sir William Jardine mentions, in 

 his interesting account of this Trout, that in one 

 instance they rose so eagerly to the ordinary flies 

 used in the rivers of the south for Grilse, that thirty- 

 four were the produce of one rod, engaged for about 

 an hour and a half. He adds, that they enter every 

 river and rivulet in immense numbers, and when 

 fishing for the Salmon, are annoying from their 

 quantity. " The best time to begin fishing for Sea- 

 trout," says Mr. Colquhoun, speaking in reference 

 to salt-water lochs, " is at the turn of. the tide^ 

 when it begins to ebb : the same rod and tackle a& 



