50 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



(4) The nature of the teeth*, and the names, if possible, 

 of the bones on which they are placed f. 



(5) The colouring of the body and fins of the fish, when 

 first caught. The size of the scales, and the number form- 

 ing the lateral line. 



(6) The number of fin-rays, or supports, in each fin : 

 these, in the tail-fin, are counted from the first long ray 

 outside, either above or below; and in the other fins in all 

 cases from the first ray nearest the head of the fish. The 

 fin-rays are denoted, as in the following pages, by placing 

 the initial letter of the name of the fin before the numeral 

 expressing the number of rays it contains as D. (for 

 ' Dorsal ') 9 : P. (for < Pectoral ') 15 : &c. Take for example 

 the fin-rays of the Gudgeon, which are particularly 



simple : 



D. 9 : P. 15 : V. 8 : A. 7 : C. 19f {. 



Occasionally there are short incumbent rays on the base 

 of the tail-fin, above and below, and these are frequently 

 omitted from the reckoning; when they are mentioned, 

 it is in general in the shape of a fraction placed after 

 the number of full-length rays, the numerator denoting 

 those above the fin, and the denominator those below it, 

 as in the example. When there is more than one dorsal 



* See page 35. 



t See illustrations of the mouth of the Trout, p. 35, and bones of 

 the jaw, &c., p. 28. 



J Vide cut showing names and position of fins, p. 32. (D. Dorsal, or 

 back-fin P. Pectoral, or breast-fin V. Ventral, or belly-fin A. Anal 

 fin C. Caudal, or tail-fin.) 



