334 GRAYLING OF THE RIVER TEME. 



willingly insert it, regretting that I have not space 

 to make use of his remarks touching the trout 

 and salmon of the Teme. Mr. George says, " Of 

 all rivers running through ' merry England/ I 

 think none produce such fine grayling as the 

 Teme. Probably a few larger fish may be taken 

 in one or two other rivers which are better 

 protected, but for perfection in shape, colour, 

 and flavour none can compete with Teme gray- 

 ling. They are in season from September to 

 Candlemas, and even later, but the months of 

 October and September, if the weather be favour- 

 able, are the best for the fly-fisher. A Teme 

 grayling in the height of condition in October 

 or November, when first taken out of the water, 

 is one of the handsomest and most symmetrical 

 fish that rise at the fly in our beautiful streams, 

 and if laid upon the hand, and looked at horizon- 

 tally, presents the most beautiful purple or violet 

 hue from snout to tail. The snout is sharp, and 

 the eye lozenge-shaped ; this fish is hog-backed, 

 and the back is of a dark purple colour, with 

 small black square spots on the sides. The 

 mouth (the under part of the lower jaw) and 

 belly touch the ground together; the latter is 

 brilliantly white, with a narrow edge or lacing of 

 gold, extending along each side from the pectoral 

 towards the ventral fin, and the tail, and pectoral, 

 and ventral fins are of a beautiful purple. The 



