*?HE SALrviOlT, 049 



Genus XLVII. — Salmon. 



JThis family contains feventeen fpecies, many of vvhicli 

 ere perfeftly familiar to tlie inhabitants of this ifiand, 

 being found in all its lakes, rivers, and (aores. The moft 

 remarkable for beauty and utility is the common falmoii; 

 "whofe external figure may vie in elegance with that of 

 any fifti that fvvlms, and whofe. flefli is well known over 

 all Kurope for its agreeable tafte and nutritive quality. 



A minute defcription of the parts of the common fal- 

 rnoa would be fuperfluous. It is found over all the north 

 of Europe and Afia^ from Britain to Ka^nfchatka * ; but 

 does not venture into the warm or intratropical latitudes. 

 It is frequent as far north as Greenland, and is feen in 

 lome of the rivers of France ; but none have been' caught 

 fo far fouth as the Mediterranea?i ■{. 



The falmon is an ocean fiHi, and therefore is only 

 found in thofe rivers and lakes that communicate with 

 the fea. As the ancient Grecians never extended their 

 empire to the ocean, they were unacquainted with this 

 excellent iifh ; and hence their language has no name to 

 diflinguilh it |. The extent of the Rdmcin territory gave 

 them many opportunities of being acquainted with the 

 falmon ; and in their language it has a name from which 

 ours is borrowed ; the word feems to exprefs its bound- 

 ing or leaping |[. 



Vol. III. I i Amonj 



* Hift. of Kamfch. p. 143. f Rondel. Fluvial. 167. 



f .-^.cfner, apud Will. p. 189. (j A Sa.Iio ut vlietan 



