166 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



General description. 



this is looked upon by the inhabitants as having 

 the desired effect. 



THE TROUT. 



THE general shape of the trout is rather long 

 than broad ; in several of the Scotch and Irish 

 rivers, they grow so much thicker than in those 

 of England, that a fish from eighteen to twenty 

 two inches, will often weigh from three to five 

 pounds. This is a fish of prey, has a short round- 

 ish head, blunt nose, wide mouth, filled with 

 teeth, not only in the jaws, but on the palate 

 and tongue ; the scales are small, the back ash 

 colour, the sides yellow, and when in season, is 

 sprinkled all over the body and covers of the gills 

 with small beautiful red and black spots ; the 

 tail is broad. 



There are several sorts of trouts differing in 

 their size, shape and hue ; but the flesh of the 

 best is either red or yellow, when drest ; the fe- 

 male has a smaller head and deeper body than 

 the male, and is of superior flavour, In fact, 

 the colour of the trout and its spots vary greatly 

 in different waters, and at different seasons. 



This fish, although very delicate, and at pre- 

 sent well knovrn, was in no esteem among the 

 ancients. It abounded in most of the lakes of 

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