66 THE SPORTING FISH 



scarlet spots and wavy lines upon a dark ground 

 of reddish-brown. The little velvet back-fin near 

 the tail is also dark brown or purple, and the whole 

 body is shot with violet, copper, and blue re- 

 flexions when seen in different lights. Properly to 

 appreciate this colouring, the fish should be laid 

 horizontally upon the hand to be looked at, in 

 which position its varied tinting is seen to the 

 greatest advantage. 



In addition to its delicate colouring, the Grayling 

 has been supposed to possess a peculiar thymy smell, 

 from which it takes its specific designation. The 

 English name, " Grayling," is probably a modifica- 

 tion of " Grey-lines," in reference to the longitudinal 

 dusky-blue bars with which its body is marked. 



In size Grayling vary according to locality; but 

 they rarely exceed 3 Ibs. in weight, and by far the 

 greater number of those taken are under i Ib. Oc- 

 casionally, however, they are met with of even a 

 larger size than that above named : Mr. T. Lister 

 Parker took three fish in the Avon, near Ring- 

 wood, which together weighed 1 2 Ibs. ; a Grayling 

 of 4 \ Ibs. weight was killed in the Test, and one of 

 5 Ibs. is recorded to have been taken in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Shrewsbury. 



No doubt the possible ultimate growth of the 

 Grayling depends upon the amount and quality of 

 its food, which, besides flies, worms, caterpillars, 

 etc., consists of the larvae of dragon-flies, May-flies, 

 and other ephemera. 



