520 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



resembles the burbot in habits, appearance and color. 

 Colour above blackish green, with dark spots ; below 

 whitish. Is perhaps the largest fresh water fish in 

 Europe; has been known to attain a length of 6 to 8 ft., 

 andj a weight of 150 Ib. Is found in some lakes and 

 large rivers, in the eastern division of Sweden, 

 especially in Smaland and Kalmar Land, specimens 

 having been taken there 4 ft. long and weighing 

 80 Ib. ; and it is on record that one was caught in the 

 Malar lake, in May 1846, which was 7 ft. 6 in. long 

 and weighed 136 Ib. They are said to spawn at 

 midsummer, but little is known of this, or indeed of 

 their other habits. 



It is very doubtful whether the silurus can be classed 

 among the British fishes, although I believe within the last 

 few years attempts have been made to introduce them into 

 the British waters, where, however, in my opinion, they would 

 never attain to any great size. The silurus is a sluggish, 

 voracious fish, lying on the bottom, moving its long feelers 

 to and fro, no doubt for the purpose of attracting its prey 

 within reach. In Finland is met with only in the lakes 

 around Tavastohus. 



Fam. 4. SALMONID.E. 



Every member of this family can be at once distinguished 

 by the small fatty adipose or hinder dorsal fin, near the 

 root of the tail, over the root of the last anal fin ray. They 

 are all more or less fish of prey ; some live entirely in fresh 

 water, others only in the sea, but most of them pass the 

 greater portion of the year in fresh waters, where they 

 spawn, and return to the sea for a short time to recruit 

 themselves afterwards. Very clean, neatly formed fish. 

 The salmon have no true type in the South American or 

 Australian seas, where they are represented by the Ga- 

 laxidce. 



Salmoj Art. Salmon and Trout. 



Adipose fin, placed over the hinder part of the anal fin. 



