154 CHAt.CIDES. 



dissolve most of the shells it swallows. It is very 

 voracious, catching at every thing offered to it. The 

 fishermen usually pierce the air-bladder of the fish, to 

 prevent its rising in the well of the boat. The sounds, 

 salted, are reckoned a great delicacy. The Icelanders 

 prepare a kind of isinglass from some parts of the fish. 



THE CHALCIDES 



Is a native of Africa, and the warmer parts of Europe ; it 

 it found of different sizes, from a few inches to more than 

 a foot, its usual length, however, is about eight or nine 

 inches. The front of its head is covered with large scales, 

 its body is like that of a snake, but its tail is very taper. 

 The legs are very short, and the feet still more so, ending 

 in minute claws. The living animal is said to be of a 

 brassy cast of colour. It is of a harmless nature, frequent- 

 ing moist places, moving slowly, and feeding on worms, 

 insects, &c. It ig a viviparous animal, and is said to be 

 very productive. 



THE TROUT. 



THE colours of this fish vary extremely in different 

 waters, as well as the flavour of its flesh ; in every place the 

 latter is much esteemed. The body is long, the head short 

 and roundish, the tail very broad, and the mouth large. 



This fish seldom exceeds four pounds in weight ; and in 

 general it is much smaller. Notwithstanding it is so 

 universally diffused, and its flesh so extremely delicate, we 

 do not find it mentioned by any of the ancients, except 

 Ausonius. There is a species called the white trout, found 

 in the river Esk, and some other streams, whose flesh when 

 dressed becomes red, and is more valued than that of the 

 common kind. 



