GRAYLING OF THE RIVER TEME. 281 



willingly insert it, regretting that I have not 

 space to make use of his remarks touching the 

 trout and salmon of the Teme. Mr. George says, 

 ' Of all rivers running through " merry England," 

 I think none produce such fine grayling as the 

 Teme. Probably a few larger fish may be taken 

 in one or two other rivers which are better 

 protected, but for perfection in shape, colour, 

 and flavour none can compete with Teme gray- 

 ling. They are in season from September to 

 Candlemas, and even later; but the months of 

 September and October, if the weather be favour- 

 able, are the best for the fly-fisher. A Teme 

 grayling, in the height of condition, in October 

 or November, when first taken out of the water, 

 is one of the handsomest and most symmetrical 

 fish that rise at the fly in our beautiful streams, 

 and if laid upon the hand, and looked at horizon- 

 tally, presents the most beautiful purple or violet 

 hue from snout to tail. The snout is sharp, and 

 the eye lozenge-shaped ; this fish is hog-backed, 

 and the back is of a dark purple colour, with 

 small black square spots on the sides. The mouth 

 (the under part of the lower jaw) and belly touch 

 the ground together ; the latter is brilliantly white 

 with a narrow edge or lacing of gold, extending 

 along each side from the pectoral towards the 

 ventral fin, and the tail, and pectoral, and ventral 

 fins are of a beautiful purple. The dorsal fin, 



