THE SALMON FAMILY. 



325 



is described as a fierce, powerful fish, frequently attacking 

 the other Salmonidce whilst spawning. In form it is short 

 and deep, with the lower jaw much hooked, or curved up- 

 wards ; and when full-grown, its girth considerably exceeds 

 its length. In the arrangement of its teeth and spots it 

 resembles closely the ordinary Trout. 



The largest of the Irish lakes, Lough Neagh, as well as 

 L. Bofin, L. Corrib, L. Mask, and others, produce a Trout 

 which has been by some naturalists too hastily considered 

 as a distinct species — the Gillaroo. The inner coats of the 



THE GILLABOO TROUT*. 



stomach in this fish are considerably thickened, so as to 

 afford increased muscular power, and the teeth are remark- 

 ably small; but beyond these, and the mere divergences 

 in external form, so little difference appears to exist be- 

 tween it and the common English Trout as to lead to the 



* Tlie specimen (a remarkably fine one from Lough Neagh) from 

 which the engraving was taken measured 22 inches in length. In 

 this fish the number of rays of the back-fin was less by two than 

 that of the same fin in the Common Trout. The numbers of the other 

 fin-rays and of the vertebrce were identical. 



