170 SALMONIDiE. 



similar appellation of VexiUifer, or the "banner-bearer/^ in 

 allusion to the same feature^ although the fin is greatly inferior 

 in size to that of the fish of which I am speaking. The allusion 

 to Captain Back^ then a midshipman, is founded on the fact, 

 that midshipmen in the British navy rank as ensigns in the 

 army, and that French officers of the same grade are styled 

 enseigne de vaisseau in consequence of the same analogy. 



Dr. Richardson proceeds to observe that " it is found only in 

 clear waters, and seems to delight in the most rapid part of 

 mountain streams. In the autumn of 1820, we obtained many 

 by angling in a rapid of the Winter River, opposite to Fort 

 Enterprise. The sport was excellent, for this Grayling generally 

 springs entirely out of water when first struck by the hook, and 

 tugs strongly at the line, requiring as much dexterity to land it 

 safely as it would to secure a Trout of six times the size." 



And this latter would be no small feat, since I find elsewhere 

 that the fish grows to five or six pounds^ weight, greatly exceeding 

 his European congener, in size, as he does also in vigour and 

 brilliancy of colom^ng. 



" The characters by which the Graylings are distinguished 

 from the Trouts," continues Dr. Richardson, " in the regne animal, 

 are the smallness of the mouth, the fineness of the teeth, the 

 great size of the dorsal fin, and the largeness of the scales. The 

 stomach is a very thick sac ; the gill-rays are seven or eight in 

 number." 



The colour of this beautiful fish is stated by the same author 

 to be as follows : — " Back dark ; sides of a hue intermediate 

 between lavender, purple, and bluish grey ; belly blackish grey 

 with several irregular whitish blotches. There are several 



