HANDSOME FISH. 369 



the differences that I most particularly observed. In out- 

 line of shape, what I suppose to be the red-bellied char 

 much resembled a well-fed trout, except that the first 

 dorsal fin is nearer the head, the caudal fin has a wider 

 spread at its termination, and the junction of the caudal 

 fin with the body is more tapered away. In colouring, the 

 back was of a deep mackerel green, interwoven with irregular 

 darker waving lines, while the belly was as brilliant as 

 burnished copper. Above, where the green of the back 

 and red of the stomach ran into each other, there were 

 three lateral lines of large brilliant red spots, interspersed 

 with minor straw-coloured ones, and in some specimens 

 the anal and pectoral fins had the first two or three spines 

 black. Altogether, in shape and colouring, a more game- 

 looking, beautiful fish cannot be imagined ; moreover, 

 their table qualities surpassed in delicacy of flavour any 

 fish I have ever eaten, for the bright red flesh had a delicate 

 nutty flavour indescribable and, I fear, scarcely imaginable. 

 Our guide, who was also cook and master of camp, used 

 to fry in cream the smaller ones, and I doubt if ever prince 

 or epicure had a dish placed before him more worthy of 

 his palate. 



But having given what I know to be, more particularly 

 to the naturalist, a far from perfect description of this 

 handsome fish's peculiarities, its habits, as differing from 

 the trout I have known, may have interest. With the 

 artificial fly they were not so readily taken as with minnow 

 or worm. When hooked I never knew them to spring 

 from the water, and the quiet reach of the pool was 

 invariably a more certain find than the brawling neck. 



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