THE GENUS THYMALLUS. 



353 



its variety Thy mall us <zliani, which is limited to Lago Maggiore, and the 

 Dalmatian species, T. microlepis. Two species are limited to North America : 

 the Poisson lieu of the Canadians, or Heivlook-poivak of the Eskimo, found 

 north of the Mackenzie River, and the other, T. tricolor, in Lake Michigan. 



Thymallas vulgaris (LINNAEUS). The Grayling. 



D. 2023, A. 1316, P. 16, V. 10- 



Scales : lat. line 75 88, transverse 



-11, C. 19. 

 9 



14. 



In the rivers of England, Thymallus vulgaris (Fig. 167) is known as the 

 Grayling; in France it is I 3 Ombre; in Upper Italy, Temolo j and in Germany, 

 die jEsche or der Asch, and Harr in Scandinavia. The name of the genus dates 

 apparently from the time of Julian, who found the fish in the Ticino and Adige. 



Fig. 167. THYMALLUS VULGARIS (XILSSOX). 



The name is attributed to the thyme-like odour which the fish exhales. Walton 

 says, " some think he feeds on water-thyme, and smells of it on being first 

 taken out of the water," but Pennant observes that he never could distinguish 

 the imaginary scent. Lloyd attributes the odour to the fish eating insects 

 which have a strong odour, so that it may sometimes be absent. 



It is a voracious fish, whiuh Pennant states will eagerly take a bait, rising 

 readily to the fly, though flies are probably an autumn luxury, for it is not till 

 October that it takes the fly freely, and then, when the taste is once acquired, 

 speedily gets into fine condition, and feasts on flies through November ; but in 

 the days when insect life is over and the work of spawning is done, the 

 Grayling, out of condition, has to feed on what the streams may provide, 

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