ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGII. 147 



to the sea, but is a constant inhabitant of the rivers, 

 haunting such places as afford deep holes and hollow 

 banks, in which it lies concealed during the day, but 

 in the night swims near the surface, snaps at flies, 

 and hunts after small fishes, frogs, and even water- 

 rats. " Though vigilant and cautious in the ex- 

 treme, the Trout is also bold and active. A Pike 

 and a Trout put into a confined place together, had 

 several battles for a particular spot, but the Trout 

 was eventually the master."* Trout of fifteen pounds 

 are occasionally caught in the Thames ; but one is 

 recorded to have been caught near Great Driffield in 

 1832, which was thirty one inches in length, twenty- 

 one in girth, and weighed seventeen pounds. And, 

 in 1822, one was taken near Salisbury, which 

 weighed twenty-five pounds. 



The fish called Charr, inhabiting mountain lakes, 

 and marked by the brilliant orange hue of the 

 underparts, is a species of Salmon (S. Alpinus, S. 

 Salvelinus, %c.). It is highly esteemed for its flavour, 

 but does not afford much sport to the angler. 



The Graylings (Thymallus-\) resemble the Trouts, 

 but are distinguished by the smallness of the mouth, 

 the large size of the scales, and the great height and 

 length of the first dorsal fin : the gills have seven or 

 eight rays. They are generally handsome fishes, 

 and scarcely inferior to the Trouts in flavour. When 

 newly taken from the water, they emit a peculiar 

 odour, resembling that of thyme. They do not 

 appear to be migratory. 



* Yarrell. f @vp,ot t thymos, thyme. 



H 2 



