THE SALMON FAMILY. 353 



Genus THYMALLUS. 



THE GRAYLING. 



(Ttiymallus vulgaris*.) 



Generic Characteristics. Two back-fins; the base of 

 the first very long, with numerous rays ; the second small 

 and adipose, without rays. Mouth small, with a squarish 

 orifice ; teeth very small and conical ; air-bladder large ; 

 body elongated, and sides marked with longitudinal bands 

 or lines. Gill-rays 7 or 8. 



Whilst yielding to its sister species the Trout in the 

 qualities of dash and obstinate courage, the Grayling is yet 

 a sturdy and mettlesome fish <( a foeman worthy of our 

 steel;" and if the former is the handsomer, the latter 

 must, I think, be admitted to be the prettier species of 

 the two. The Trout has, so to speak, a Herculean cast of 

 beauty ; the Grayling rather that of an Apollo light, deli- 

 cate, and gracefully symmetrical. 



Though abounding to excess in some streams, the Gray- 



* Thymallus, ( thymy ' from thymum, thyme, and vulgaris, com- 

 mon, Lat. 



