234 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



bones, on the vomer and palatines, and on the tongue ; none 

 on the pterygoid bones ; anal fin short, with less than 

 fourteen rays ; pyloric appendages numerous ; ova large ; 

 young specimens with dark cross bands (parr marks)." 



"The Salmo salar" says Gunther, ''can be generally 

 recognised, but there are instances in which the identifica- 

 tion of specimens is doubtful, and in which the following 

 characters, besides others, will be of great assistance. 

 The tail is covered with relatively large scales, there being 

 constantly eleven, or sometimes twelve, in a transverse 

 series, running from behind the adipose fin forwards to 

 the lateral line, whilst there are from thirteen to fifteen 

 in the different kinds of sea-trout and river-trout. The 

 number of pyloric appendages is great, generally between 

 sixty and seventy, more rarely falling to fifty-three, or 

 rising to seventy-seven. The body of the vomer is armed 

 with a single series of small teeth, which at an early age 

 are gradually lost from behind towards the front, so that 

 half-grown and old individuals have only a few (one to 

 four) left." i 



To this description may be added another very marked 

 distinction. As a rule, salmon rarely have any spots 

 below the lateral line, except one or two by the gill-covers, 

 whereas in the trout either sea, bull, or river the spots 

 extend considerably below that line. 



THE SALMON. 



The SALMON (Salmo salar), after leaving the egg, goes 

 through four distinct stages of its existence, viz., the Parr, 

 the Smolt, the Grilse, and the Salmon proper. 



It is of very great importance to all who fish rivers or 

 lakes where salmon have bred, to be able to distinguish a 

 salmon-parr from a trout-parr. The former it is always 

 illegal to kill, whilst the latter can be taken without in- 



1 A full account of the salmon and its allies is to be found in Dr. 

 Day's " British and Irish Salmonidse," a book of great value, both for 

 instruction and for reference. 



