F.SllES. 541 



^■2. The Fistularia. The body angular, in form of a spindle ; 

 the head pipe-fashion, with a beak; the fin covering the gills 

 with seven rays ; the under jaw covering the upper. 



43. The Esox or Pike. The body round ; the head with t 



from three to fiie pounds. Tliis is a fish of prey ; has a short roundish head 

 blunt nose, wide mouth filled wth teeth, not only in the jaws, but in the 

 palate and tongue ; the scales are small ; the back of an 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. The 

 female has a suiiJler 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 dififer. 

 ent waters, and at different seasons. 



This fish, although very delicate, and at present well known, was in no 

 esteem among the ancients. It abounded inmost of the lakes of the Roman 

 empire, yet is only mentioned by writers on account of its beautiful colours 



In some rivers trouts begin to spawn in October, but November is the 

 chief months of spawmng. About the end of September they quit the deep 

 water to which they had retired during the hot weather, and make great 

 efforts to gain the course of the currents, seeking out a proper place for 

 spawning. This is always on a gravelly bottom, or where gravel and sand 

 are mixed among stones towards the end and sides of the streams. At this 

 period they turn black about the head and body, and become soft and un- 

 wholesome. Tliey are never good when they are big with roe, which is 

 contrary to the nature of most other fish. They multiply very fast, though 

 they produce much less spawn than any other fish, which is probably owing 

 to the voracious fish in these cold streams where they reside ; and they 

 would be still more numerous, if they were not so greedy as to devour each 

 other. After spawning they become feeble, their bodies are wasted, and 

 those beautiful spots, which before adorned them, are imperceptible ; their 

 heads appear swelled, and their eyes are dull. In this state they seek still 

 waters, and continue there sick, as is supposed, all the winter. There are 

 in all trout rivers some barren female fish, which continue good throughout 

 the winter. 



'I'heae fish begin to leave their winter quarters in March, or sometimes 

 earlier, if the weather be mild, and approach the shallows and tails of 

 streams, where they cleanse and restore themselves. As they acquire 

 strength they advance still higher up the rivers, till they fix on their sum. 

 nier residence ; for which they generally choose an eddy behind a stone, a 

 log, or bank, that projects into the water, and against which the current 

 drives. 



The varieties of the common trout are almost infinite ; from the great 

 lake trout, which weighs above 60 or 70 lbs. to the trouts of the little moun. 

 tain brook, which is scarcely larger than the finger. The gilleroo trout and 

 par, samlet or brandling may be considered as forming distinct species. 



V'/ie Salmon-trout, so called from its resemblance to the two fish whose 

 name it bears : it attains the size of a small salmon ; is spotted in the same 

 manner :ls the trout ; and, like it, spawns in winter. Like the salmon it 

 .•'iimetimes Inhabits tlie sea, and sometimes the rivers ; it likewise ascends 

 into the latter to deposit Us spawn. The salmon-trouts, however, do not 



2z 



