THE TROUT. 153 



each within its own limits. But should the balance be 

 disturbed either from the interference of man, or any 

 decrease in the natural food by its destruction in un- 

 usual weather, or any other cause, the inferior race may 

 get the predominance, and the most valuable may be 

 thus made to give way, to be replaced by the inferior 

 and perhaps almost worthless. Mr. Buckland seems 

 to fear that in some rivers the Bull Trout and other 

 inferior kinds are getting the predominance, even so 

 far as to drive away the true Salmon. 



Salmofario, the common Trout, is subject to con- 

 siderable variety in colour ; generally it is of an olive- 

 green on the upper parts, paler on the sides ; and the 

 under parts from the mouth to the tail are of a clear 



THE TROUT. 



yellow. The back of the dorsal fin and the opercules 

 are spotted with black, the flanks are ornamented with 

 round spots of orange-red, surrounded by a circle of a 

 pale bluish colour; the lower fins and tail are frequently 

 yellowish, edged with black. But these colours differ 

 according to age and locality. The Trout is covered 

 with oblong striated scales. The head is thick, the 

 muzzle wide and obtuse, and the eye is large. The 



