304 S A M L E T. Class IV, 



Thirdly, The falmon attain a confiderable bulk 

 before they begin to breed : the famlets, on the 

 contrary, are found male and female^ (diftinguiili- 

 ed by the milt and roe) of their common fize. 



Fourthly, They are found in the frefh waters in 

 all times of the year, and even at feafons when 

 the falmon fry have gained a confiderable fize. 

 It is well known, that near Shrewjbury (where the 

 are called Samfons) they are found in fuch quanti- 

 ties in the month of Septemhe7\ that a ikilful 

 angler, in a coracle, will take with a fly from 

 twelve to fixteen dozen in a day. 



They fpawn in Novemher and December^ at which 

 time thofe of the Severn pufh up towards the head 

 of that fair river, quieting the lefier brooks, and re- 

 turn into them again when they have done. 



They have a general refemblance to the trout, 

 therefore mud be defcribed comparatively. 



Firft, The head is proportionably narrower, and 

 the mouth lefs than that or the trout. 



Secondly, Their body is deeper. 



Thirdly, They feldom exceed ^ix or feven in- 

 ches in length : at mod, eight and a half. 



Fourthly, The pedloral fins have generally but 

 one large black fpot, though fometim.es a fingle 

 fmall one attends itj v/hereas the pedloral fins of 

 the trout are more numeroufly marked. 



Fifthly, The fpurious or fat fin on the back is 



* It has been vulgarly imagined, that there were no other 

 than males of this fpecies. 



never 



