THE GRAYLING. 267 



streams, and occurs in many of those which bear 

 that character in the more hilly or mountainous 

 districts of England, particularly in Shropshire, 

 Yorkshire, and Derbyshire, reaching as far north 

 as one of the tributaries of the Tyne in Northum- 

 berland. We are not aware of its occurrence in 

 any river of the mainland of Scotland, although 

 Mr. Low states that it is not unfrequent in the 

 streams of the Orkney Islands. We deem it more 

 than probable that he has mistaken for it some 

 other fish. Its European range seems extensive, 

 if the various authors are correct in their name, 

 and each designates the same species. According 

 to Linnaeus it is common in Lapland, where its 

 viscera are used instead of rennet, with the milk of 

 rein-deer. It is also found in Siberia, in Prussia, 

 and Pomerania. The grayling is a very ornamental 

 species, the prevailing hue of the body being of a 

 pale yellowish brown, finely varied by reflections 

 of golden green, and copper colour. But the most 

 marked and peculiar feature is the dorsal fin, of 

 very large size, and darkly spotted between the 

 rays in the form of transverse bands. The ordi- 

 nary size is from ten to sixteen inches, but indivi- 

 duals are killed occasionally which weigh three, 

 four, or even five pounds. Unlike the other sal- 

 monidse, it does not spawn till spring, and is 

 therefore in high condition in autumn and winter, 

 when most fresh-water fishes are out of season. 

 By some authors the grayling is regarded as a 

 migratory fish, which passes most part of the 

 winter in the open sea, and resides only during 



