/ SALMONID^. 49 



air, and the- water, and all the things that have life, whether animal 

 or vegetable, therein. • ' 



Little are they aware how fantastic are the tricks which they play, 

 " like angry apes before high heaven," in the eyes of all those, whether 

 naturalists or sportsmen, who do not confoimd conceit with knowledge, 

 or wit with impertinent vulgarity. ' ' ; 



I shall now proceed to a few observations with regard to the figure 

 No. 1, in the last wood-cut, on page 46, which represents the inte- 

 rior of the mouth, opened to the utmost, of the common Trout of 

 Great Britain and the European continent, Salmo. Fario; wh'ioh is 

 selected by Mr. Yarrel as "showing" — to borrow his own words — 

 " the most complete series of teeth among the Salmonidm ; and the 

 value of the arrangement, as instruments for seizure and prehension, 

 arising from the interposition of the different rows, the four lines of 

 teeth on the lower surface alternating, when the mouth is closed, with 

 the five rows on the upper surface, those on the vomer shutting in' 

 between the two rows on the tongue," &c. 



In this cut, letter a represents the situation of the row of teeth that 

 is fixed on the central bone of the roof of the mouth, called the vomer, 

 from some fancied resemblance to the share" of a plough, for which 

 the word used is the Latin term ; bb, refer to the teeth on the right 

 and left palatine bones; c, to the row of hooked teeth on each side of 

 the tongue-; d*d, to the row of teeth outside the palatine bones, on the 

 upper jaw, which ar.e those of the superior iaaxillary bones ; and ee, 

 to the outside row on the maxillary bones of the lower jaw. 



Now it will readily be understood what is the importa:nce of exam- 

 ining carefully this syStem of teeth, in the different varieties of the 

 salmon family, whether called Salmon, Salmon Trout, Lake Trout, 

 Brook Trout, or any other local name whatsoever ; when it is stated 

 that the distinct species are very strongly and permanently indicated 

 by the number of teeth found in each upon the vomer, central bone 

 of the roof the mouth. 



In the true Salmon, the teeth on the vomer very rarely exceed 

 two ; and sonletLmes there is but one. 



In the Bull-Trout, the teeth are longer and stronger than those of 

 the true Salmon ; but, like that fish, he has but two, or at most ihree 

 teeth on the vomer ; he is distinguished, according to the authcfrities, 



