16 The Grayling. 



H. 



THE GRAYLING OR UMBER. 



PLATE x. 3. 



HIS fish is called Grayling, from the gray 

 colour of its sides, &c. and Umber from the 

 Latin Umbra, either from its quickness in 

 evading the sight, or from his swift motion, 

 as he darts like a shadow in the water. He is not a 

 very common fish in this country, and is seldom found 

 except in streams on whose banks old religious houses 

 are stationed. The old monks, it is supposed, first in- 

 troduced the fish into this country, thus providing them- 

 selves with a winter fish for their winter fast days. 



The Grayling is angled for in March and April, with 

 the fly, cad bait, gentil or maggot, worm, tag-tail, and 

 trolling minnow. The last of these, Taylor says, they 

 never take ; but he is in error, for I have taken them, 

 both in the Ure and Swale, with the trolling minnow, 

 in clear water. 



The Grayling frequents the same streams as the trout, 

 though he delights in the swiftest, particularly the tails 

 and sides of them, and he is taken with the same flies, 

 though a small bluish bloa is his greatest favourite. 



This fish spawns in April and May, at which time the 

 sharp streams are his haunt, and he does not lose his 

 flesh and beauty even at this time, as the trout does. 

 In December he is in his prime, at which time his gills 

 and head are blackish, and his belly dark grey, studded 

 with black spots. Though a leather-mouthed fish, he is 

 very tender in that part, and, from his great activity as 



