82 SALMONJDiE. 



and then return to their former element." This may apply 

 to Grayling on some parts of the European continent,* but 

 is not the case certainly with our fish in this country, in the 

 rivers of which it is found in the most perfect condition, 

 and in consequence most eagerly sought after, in October 

 and November. The finest specimens I ever saw were 

 taken in November ; and Sir H. Davy states in his " Salmo- 

 nia," he had proved that the Grayling of England would 

 not bear even a brackish water without dying. 



The term Thymallus is said to have been bestowed upon 

 this fish on account of the peculiar odour it emits when fresh 

 from the water, which is said to resemble that of thyme ; 

 and from its agreeable colour as well as smell, St. Ambrose 

 is recorded to have called the Grayling the flower of fishes. 

 To be eaten in perfection, it cannot be dressed too soon. 

 The name Grayling is supposed to be a modification of the 

 words gray-lines, in reference to the dusky longitudinal bars 

 along the body. 



It has been considered that the large dorsal fin of the 

 Grayling enabled it to rise and sink rapidly in deep pools ; 

 but this power would rather seem to be afforded by the 

 large size of the swimming-bladder. The very large dorsal 

 fin, compared to the small size of all the other fins, renders 

 the Grayling unable to stem rapid currents : they are much 

 more prone to go down stream than up, and are never seen 

 leaping at a fall, like Trout. 



In a Grayling of ten inches long, the length of the head 

 is to the body alone as one to four ; the depth of the body 

 rather more than equal to the length of the head : from the 

 point of the nose to the commencement of the dorsal fin is 

 equal to one-third of the length of the whole fish to the end 

 of the fleshy portion of the tail ; the posterior edge of the 

 * Bloch says the Grayling descends to the Baltic in autumn. 



