SALMONOIDE.E. 141 



stomach of an Orkney specimen. Some British ichthyologists consider our Salmon-trout to 

 be the Salmo trutta ; but it is certainly not the species so designated on the continent, which 

 has a prolonged double series of vomerine teeth. The brief remark in the Reyne Animal, on 

 the Truite de mer, or Salmo Schiefermulleri, applies in all points to our Salmon-trout. 



3. The Hirling of the Nith, and Whiting of the Esk, Phinoc, or Salmo albus, of Fleming, 

 Salmo Cumberland, or Le Saumon blanc, of Lac^pede, resembles the two preceding so much 

 as to be readily mistaken for either. The head bears the same proportion to the body as in 

 the Common salmon, and its scales are larger and still more delicate than those of the Salmon- 

 trout, but the colours and markings are nearly the same. It is most readily distinguished by 

 its vomerine teeth extending farther back in two rows, and being clustered in front. In 

 several specimens the casca were found to be 49. The intestines were lined with the same 

 kind of grey mucus, mixed with spots of the red substance which is found in the guts of the 

 salmon. This species enters the rivers in July and August, its flesh has a deep salmon colour 

 and a very excellent flavour. The usual size is from one to two pounds. Larger individuals 

 are confounded with young salmon, and are sold indiscriminately with them in the Dumfries 

 market, under the name of " grilses." Salmon-trout are also frequently sold by the name of 

 Hirlings. 



4. Plate 91, f. 2, represents the head of a trout which is in Mr. Yarrell's possession. It 

 was taken from a Glamorganshire fish, said to be the Sewin (Salmo Cambriscus of Donovan), 

 which is very probably the same species with the Bull-trout of the Tweed, and the Salmo 

 hamatus of Cuvier. We have already remarked that the Salmon-trout is also called Sewin in 

 Wales ; indeed, the whole article in Pennant's British Zoology on the Grey evidently refers 

 to the Salmon-trout *. As I have not seen an authentic specimen of the salmo hamatus of 

 the Reyne Animal, I am unable decidedly to controvert M. Agassiz's opinion that it is merely 

 a nominal species, founded upon a change of form which takes place in the old males of Salmo 

 salar ; but the evidence I have gleaned from authors induces me to follow Cuvier in consider- 

 ing it to be quite distinct. There can be no question that the two heads represented on our 91st 

 plate belong to different species : now the lower one is very like the head of the Tweed trout, 

 which, in the whole shape, as well as in the markings of the body, closely resembles Bloch's 

 figure, t. 98, quoted by Cuvier as his Salmo hamatus. Were the peculiarities of the latter merely 

 the effect of age, we should not find it more thickly and generally spotted than even the younger 

 individuals of the Common salmon, which is in fact the case. The following passage, quoted 

 from the Lachesis Lapponica, tends to prove, not only the northern range of the Salmo hama- 

 tus, but also that the hook of the lower jaw is developed even in young fish ; but the old 

 males of the Common salmon that we usually see in the Nith, and some other British rivers, 

 have a comparatively slight hook. " Here," in Lulean Lapland, " the Common salmon is 

 found with the under jaw occasionally hooked. I inquired whether this variety was esteemed 

 a distinct species, or whether a difference arising from age : both of which questions I was 



* Pennant quotes doubtfully Sa/mo eriox, Linn., as synonymous with his Grey. It is described by authors as having a 

 deeper body than the Common salmon, grey spots, and an even tail, characters which all occur in an old Salmon-trout. 

 The caudal fin becomes even in several species of trout as they advance in age. 



