THE SALMON FAMILY. 363 



dreds are sometimes taken at a single draught of the net *. 

 They die rapidly on being taken from the water, and are 

 prone to quick decomposition. 



The most common length of the Mi-grown fish is from 

 10 to 12 inches ; and their spawning-time is towards the 

 latter end of the year. 



The Pollan or Coregonus of Lough Neagh, Ireland, dif- 

 fers from the Welsh Gwyniad in the following particulars : 

 in the snout not being produced ; in the back-fin being 

 nearer the head; in the smaller number of rays in the 

 anal fin, and in the position of the fin being rather more 

 distant from the tail; also in the back-, anal, and tail- 

 fins being smaller ; and in the third ray of the breast-fins 

 being the longest the first ray being of the greatest length 

 in the Gwyniad f. 



CJiaracteristics of the Gwyniad. Length of head compared with 

 total length of body as 1 to 5. Depth of body at commencement of 

 back-fin rather exceeding length of head. Back-fin commencing about 

 halfway between point of nose and end of fleshy portion of tail ; longest 

 ray one-third longer than the base. Adipose fin rather nearer to the 

 end of the tail than to the hinder edge of the back-fin. Breast-fins 

 narrow, pointed, and somewhat shorter than the head, inserted low 

 down on the body. Ventral fins attached under middle of back-fin. 

 Tail forked. Head triangular; jaws nearly equal, the lower just 

 shutting within the upper. A very few minute teeth on tongue and 

 jaws. Eyes large. Lateral line very near middle of side. Scales 



* Amongst the poorer classes the fish goes by the name of the 

 "Fresh-water Herring," and is salted and cured in a similar manner 

 to its salt-water prototype. The Welsh name "Gwyniad" has refer- 

 ence to its silvery- white colour. 



t Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1835, p. 77. 



