12 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



and is particularly fond of small crustaceae, sand- 

 hoppers, and other marine creatures. As it ap- 

 proaches the estuaries of rivers, its food becomes 

 more general, and when it enters them, the 

 winged water-flies constitute almost its sole diet. 



Another member of the SalmonicUe is the 

 bull-trout, said to be a species by some, by 

 others only a variety. It is found in many rivers 

 common to salmon and sea-trout, and is fairly 

 abundant in most British salmon rivers. Its 

 specific distinctions vary greatly with local con- 

 ditions, so much so, sometimes, as almost to 

 make it past recognition. Grey-trout is one of 

 its provincial names, round-tail another, and on 

 the north-east coast it is known as the scurf. So 

 much does the bull-trout resemble the true salmon 

 in appearance, that, after the tail has been clipped 

 square, it is sold as such. This resemblance 

 between- the two species extends to haunt and 

 habit, food, spawning, and migration. The bull- 

 trout attains to a considerable weight ; and just as 

 the fish is in good condition or otherwise, so its 

 flesh is pink or yellowish white. As a game-fish, 

 it affords capital sport, and fights as vigorously 

 as the salmon or brown-trout. 



