THE GREY TROUT. 
149 
Sewen (pi. 91),* with which they are evidently identical, is a very characteristic 
figure. These specimens differ only from it in having fewer spots below the lateral 
line — but in this particular they accord not with each other — and in the darkness 
of the blue he represents being relieved or lightened by a silvery cast.f The tail 
of the Sewen cannot be called incorrect from being forked, as when unexpanded 
it appears slightly so in the present specimens, although when fully spread out it 
is square. The female exhibits over the body and operculum, &c., as many more 
spots as the males — on her operculum are six round spots, on that of the males 
two or three. Fins of the female coloured as in the Sewen, but in the males all 
darker : V. and A. dull pink or flesh-colour in the female ; in the males the Y. 
grey for two-thirds posteriorly, the A. entirely dark grey ; their other fins merely 
of a darker shade than those of the female. Irides silvery. 
“ The ova in the female are very minute, being not more than half the size of 
clover seed ; the milt in the males occupies twice its space. These latter not 
having any of the red markings said to distinguish the adult male, and the hook 
of the lower jaw being so slightly developed, taken in connexion with the internal 
appearance of both sexes, lead to the conclusion that they would not have bred for 
another year. In the stomach of one was a sand eel ( Ammodytes Lanced) three 
inches long, and in another ^ large piece of the marine plant ( Ceramium rubrum ) .” 
On seeing these fishes, I recollected having a few days previously 
observed two very peculiar looking trout in the market (which were 
called salmon), evidently of this species. One of them, weighing about 
6 lbs., had the hooked jaw, denoting a male ; and his sides exhibited a 
series of longitudinal stripes of deep orange ; the other was a female, the 
colour of those above-mentioned, and about 9 lbs. weight. 
Florence Court , Oct. 1840. — A fine male fish, 10^ lbs., received from 
L. Melvin. Small specimens of this species and S. Trutta, about 9 inches 
long, have been taken in the river three miles from Florence Court House, 
with hosts of S. Fario , and on different days. 
Oct. 20th, 1840. — One 3 feet 2 inches long, same weight as last, and 
equally out of condition (a male fish), brought to-day from Beleek, along 
with a female salmon. The colour of this fish was much the same as 
last, but the red spots (for in this they were truly red) were differently 
disposed : in the former, the lower ones became reddish without any 
pattern ; in this they were thrown into circles an inch or more in diameter, 
and were otherwise patterned like an irregular carpet figure. The spots 
on back and upper portion are black along the middle, and below it the 
red appear. 
Although this species is occasionally brought to Belfast, it is not of 
frequent occurrence here. 
Oct. 28 th, 1840. — I obtained a specimen in Belfast market : it was taken 
in the sea at Donaghadee, and without any other trout being captured at 
the same time. Its general form at once marks it distinct from other 
species of Salmo. It is long and narrow, and of a more equable breadth 
than any of the others ; it is, however, hardly so much so as Agassiz’ 
female “ S. Salar.” The pointed head mentioned to me by Agassiz, as a 
character of this species, is obvious here. Its length is 23 inches ; weight 
only 3^ lbs., though in good condition before dissection. I concluded it 
to be a male, from the hook of lower jaw, which is extremely slight, barely 
rising ^th of an inch above the gum anterior to the adjoining teeth. 
* Whether Sewen be applied only to this fish, or to 8. Trutta also, I have no 
means of judging; I can only offer an opinion on Donovan’s fig. 
f This observation is 'perhaps superfluous, as different copies of the work may 
not invariably exhibit the same shade of colours. 
