THE GRAYLING. 127 



We have never seen grayling more than from 

 nine to fourteen or fifteen inches in length, 

 but examples are on record of fish weighing 

 from four to five pounds ; such specimens are, 

 however, very rare. 



The grayling is remarkable for the height of 

 the first dorsal -fin, which is crossed with square 

 dusky spots ; the head and back are dusky 

 brown, the sides of the body of a light 

 yellowish brown, with golden, green, and 

 blue reflexions, and about fifteen dusky 

 longitudinal lines, with scattered black spots ; 

 the head is small, and the scales rather large. 



In some of the lakes of Ireland, a fish of this 

 family, termed the pollan, exists abundantly, 

 and in the lakes of Wales and Cumberland a * 

 fish called the gwyriad, or schelly, is found. A 

 fish known as the vendace tenants the lakes of 

 Dumfriesshire. 



We must not here omit the smelt, termed in 

 some counties the sparling, (Osmerus eperla- 

 nus,) so noted for its cucumber odour, and so 

 well-known in the markets of London. 



This delicate little fish is not found along the 

 line of our southern shores from Dover to 

 Land's End, but is common on several parts both 

 of our west and eastern shores, migrating in 

 August up the rivers, where it remains till 



