3iy PISCES. 



gill-rnys; strong spines in the first dorsal, pectorals, and even vcntrals; bnt neitLer eccca nor air-liladder. 

 They form two sulfgcnera: — 



IIi/pos/omiLv, have a small dorsal with one ray ; the labial veiled with papilla, with a small cirrus on each aide ; 

 no pititi.'s on the brlly, and the intestnics spirally convoluted, and as slender as a thread. They inhabit the 

 rivers of .^uuth Anieric;i. 



Lorictirid, have one dorsal forwards, the labial veiled y\\\.\\. cirri, plates on tlie under parts of the body, and the 

 intcitinei moderatrdy lai'ye. 



THE FOUUTII FA:\nLY OF THE 1\IALAC0PTERYGII ABDOillNALES. 



Salmo-\'iu_]' (the Salmon, or Trout, Family). 



Accordinc:: to Liiinieus, these formed but one great genus, characterized hy a scaly body, all the rays 

 of the first dorsal soft, and the second dorsal adipose, or formed of skin inclosing fat, and without rays. 

 Tliey have numerous coeca, and an air-bladder. Most of tliem ascend rivers ; and their flesh is highly 

 esteemed. They are naturally voracious ; and as the form and armature of their jaws vary greatly, 

 they may be arranged into the following suligenera: — 



Sahno, Salmon aud Trout, properly so called. — These have great jiart of the margin of the upper 

 jaw formed of the maxillaries ; a ro^v of pointed teetli in the maxillai'ies, the inti.-rmaxillaries, the 

 palatals, and mandibularies, and two rows on the vomer, the tongue, and tlie pharynx, — being, in fact, 

 the most completely toothed of all fishes. In old males, the extremity of the lower jaw is bent up 

 towards the palate, \\licre a groove receives it when the mouth is shut. The venti'als are under the 

 first dorsal, and tlie aiials under the adipose one. They have six gill-rays, or thereabouts ; the stomach 

 is long and narrow, with numerous Cffica ; their air-bladder extends the whole length of tiie abdomen, 

 aud couimunleates anteriorly with the gullet. Many species are spotted, and their fiesh is in general 

 very gnnd. Tliey ascend rivers to spawn, often leaping over cascades of considerable elevation, and 

 finding tlieir way to-tbe brooks and small lakes of the most lofty niduutains. [They are understoud to 

 return almost invariably to the rivers in which they are produced; and therefore the fixiug, at the 

 mouth of a river, of any sort of bar to their jirogress upwards, is sure to drive them from tlie estuary. 

 According to Mr. Yarrell, one of the very best authorities, all the family are clouded with trauoverse 

 du^JvV patches when very young, — analogous to what occur on all the species of Cat^.] 



iS. nfilnvy the Salmon properly so called, is the largest of the genus, with red tlesh, and irregular brown spots, 

 which disappear in fresh water ; the cartilaginous beak of the male is not much hooked. They inhabit the seas 

 Ol' comparatively cold regions, whence they ascend the rivers for the purpose of spawning, at different times of 

 the year according to the climate, — some in autumn, some in winter, and some in early s])ring. [Tlie eflbrts 

 which they make to overcome ditRculties in the ascent are very great ; and ^\ lien they have made some progress 

 up the fres.i water, it is equally cruel and impolitic to capture Iln.ni. It shmild six-m that, in most of the British 

 ri\'erK, Sann-in are diminishing in numbiTs, nnd becondng uU'erinr in ipialiiy, the cause of which has not been 

 e::pl;iiiicd in a satisraclor'v manner. In I n^hinil, where tlicy lia\'c nnirr it.tiiI |y l.iectiuie an article of commerce, 

 thry an; Innud in considrralilr ;ibniidancc. Salnnni ri-\ba\r tlie lail I'm l,((l, and the fui-k dib^appears as the lish 

 advances in age ; but the nun-gin does not become convex, as m the Jiuli-trunt.] ^. humains, is whitish, spotted 

 with red and black ; and tlie snout of the male is narrow, antl much crooked in the lower jaw. Its teeth are niorc 

 robust than those of the true ?almun, and its liesh as red ; but it is inferior in quality. It is found in the mouths 

 of rivers. H. Schii-fiiunill.-ri, the Sea-trout, is smaller than the former, with the teeth more slender and longer. 

 The tlanks are sprinkli'd wMh small crescent-shaped spots, and the flesh is paler than that uf the Salmon. S. 

 hvrhi' [piaiiaii'^ tlie Huil-lrnut, or Gray Truut], grows to alniust the size of the Salmon, and has strong teeth, and 

 a jiiMuti'd liiwci- jaw in the male. 



The remaining Trouts are fumid in all the clear streams of Europe, especially among mounlalus ; and they are 

 tubpct to great variations from age, food, and the nature of the waters; but these do not appear to account for all 

 the dillVrenees. [In the same river. Trout are yellowish brown, with bright crimson spots, where the water is fine 

 and pure ; and lurid and dark, and greatly inferior in flavour, where it is tinged with peat.] ,S. lemanns, Geneva 

 Trout, found in that lake, and some neighbouring ones ; ground colour whitish, with small blackish spots on the 

 head and back; sometimes forty or fifty pounds in weight: the flesh is white. -S. trutta, Salmon Trout, bluish 

 black above, pale on the sides, silvery on the belly, with cross-shaped spots towards the upper part, migratory in 

 clfar stii-aiiis, and esteemed next in value to the Salmon. [It varies a good deal in colour ; and. iVom its silvery 

 lustre, it is called White Trout in some parts of Britain.] >S. fario, the Common, or River Trout, is generally 

 s,nianer ilian the last, spotted with brown on the back, and crimson on the flanks,— the crimson spots usually sur- 

 ruuiidiil liy a pale-colourod circle; common in all the clear streams of temperate countries, and sometimes found 

 two feet aiul a half long, and fifteen pounds in weight. [The GiUaroo Trout of the Irish lakes appears to be a 

 \r'rii4y, in which the internal coating of the stomach is modified a little to suit the nature of thefood. S.fero.r, 

 the Great Grey Trout, iidiabits the deeper lakes, and grows to a laige size, but its flesh is inferior.] 5. saveliiius, 



