132 PHYSOSTOMI. 



somewhat pi'oduced in adults. The first dorsal fin commences midway between 

 the end of the snout and on a line above the front edge of the anal fin, the 

 height of its rays being about two-thirds of that of the body below it. Pectoral 

 inserted in the lower fourth of the height, and as long as the head excluding the 

 snout. Ventrals situated beneath the middle of the rayed dorsal fin, and 

 comparatively small, terminating on a line below the hind edge of the adipose 

 dorsal. Caudal forked. Scales — in regular rows, some small ones being present 

 over the basal portion of the caudal fin. The chest, or that portion of it as far 

 as the pectoral fin, may be entirely destitute of scales or else scaled. In the 

 example figured there were twenty-two rather short ccecal appendages. Walls of 

 the stomach thickened. Colours — these during life are beautifully changeable ; 

 head of a bluish purple and a golden tinge along the back, while the horizontal 

 lines along the body are dark, and each of the scales has a golden tinge. Dorsal 

 fins with purplish bands and ocelli which have a purplish red centre, and there 

 are likewise some purplish streaks along the courses of the rays, while the outer 

 edge is likewise purplish. Occasionally there are some black spots on the fins, 

 also scattered over the body. The brighter colours decrease with age, and gray 

 lines show themselves along each row of scales; while the young have transverse 

 bars or bands. 



Names. — Thymallus was given to this fish by Ausonius, from the fancied 

 resemblance of its odour to that of the water thyme, iipon which it was supposed 

 to feed, an odour which those of the present day fail to detect ; but Mr. Pennell 

 considers that he can observe some likeness in its smell when first captured to 

 that of the cucumber. Some who imagine they are able to recognize this odour 

 have suggested that the varying nature of its food may cause the grayling 

 to occasionally possess a strong smell which at other times almost or quite 

 disappears. " Grayling " is said to be a corruption of Gray lines, referring to the 

 longitudinal lines along its gray body. Oumer, Northumberland. Shutts, or 

 Shot, young in the Teme. While St. Ambrose of Milan is recorded to have 

 termed it the " flower of fishes." Aubrey in his MS. says that in his days the 

 umber was caught in the Madder, between Wilton and Salisbury, &c. " This 

 kind of fish (he remarks) is found in no other river in England except the 

 Humber in Yorkshire. Prom that river, therefore, I conclude it takes its name 

 of umber " (Maton, Nat. Hist, of Wilts). Salviani in the sixteenth century observed, 

 that being a swift swimmer it disappears like a shadoiv, from whence it derived 

 its name umbra. Cotton, however, says this name is due to the black or shadoivy 

 spots on his belly, and the black colour of his head when out of season. One-year- 

 old fish are in some places known as pinks, at about i lb. weight shot or shut, i.e. 

 prior to breeding. De Vlagzalm, Dutch. Omhre, French. 



This fish is another whose introduction has been ascribed to the monks, and 

 many of the local grayling fisheries are found in the vicinity of where monasteries 

 formerly stood. But it would be difficult to convey this fish from the continent 

 with the means then at their disposal; while in Kent, Dorsetshire, Devonshire, 

 and Cornwall, where there were many monasteries, grayling are not found. 



Habits. — Although present in many of our rivers, and in some abundantly, the 

 grayling is certainly a local fish, while at times it appears to be gregarious, 

 showing a tendency to congregate in small shoals, which generally drop down 

 stream. In this country it would appear to be a strictly fluviatile fresh- water fish 

 in its habits, never migrating to the sea ; but in Scandinavia it is found in lakes 

 also in the North Sea, Cattegat, and Baltic. Sir Humphrey Davy tried it in 

 brackish water but without success. It prefers clear streams, in which there are 

 a succession of pools and shallows, with sandy, gravelly, or loamy beds, rocky or 

 stony bottoms being unsuitable. The larger ones seem to resort more to the 

 deeper and quiet spots, the moderately-sized and small ones to the shallows, taking 

 their post behind a rock or a bunch of weeds. Although clear streams are to be 

 preferred, still a moderate temperature of the water seems to be of more 

 consequence, as too much cold or too much heat are asserted to be equally fatal to it. 

 It is not every river that appears suited for the grayling, thus the attempts to 

 acclimatize it in the Thames do not appear, so far, to have been a success. It lives 



