THE SALMON-TROUT. 2,95 



per s or parrs.* At this age they assume a beautiful ap- 

 pearance ; the back and sides, as far as the lateral line, are 

 of a dusky brown colour, marked with a number of small 

 dark spots ; the lateral line crossed with from eight to nine, 

 and sometimes ten, transverse bluish bands, with an orange- 

 coloured spot placed between each ; the head brownish- 

 green ; the gill-covers with one or two large dark spots 

 tinged with red ; belly white ; ventrals and anal fins inclin- 

 ing to yellow, as well as the pectorals which are rather 

 darker ; dorsal fin slightly spotted, with the summit of the 

 anterior part dusky; vomerine teeth about twelve in num- 

 ber, extending far back ; caudal fin deeply forked. In De- 

 cember, these fish are seen somewhat larger, and about the 

 end of May or the early part of June following, the greater 

 part make their first migration to the sea, when they are 

 observed, on an average, from five and a half to eight inches 

 in length, assuming a silvery appearance, with their anal and 

 ventral fins white, and the pectorals dusky at their tips. (See 

 Plate XXXI.) Those fry which remain in the river after 

 the month of June, soon become in excellent condition. 



After they have remained in the sea for about two months, 

 we find them, on their return to the rivers, measuring from 

 ten to twelve inches in length, when they are known under 

 the name of Herlings or Whitlings (Salmo albus of Dr 

 Fleming). At this period they assume a different aspect ; 

 the back becomes of a dusky blue ; the sides silvery, mark- 

 ed with a few obscure dark spots, principally in the region 

 of the pectorals. Some examples are without spots, pre- 

 senting at the same time a fine silvery appearance, from 



" These fish are not the Parrs {S. salmulus) of ichthyologists, although 

 closely resembling them. Dr Fleming, however, considers them identical ; 

 probably owing to his never having had an opportunity of examining an 

 adult specimen of S. salmulus. 



