SALMON TROUT. 
215 
This fish feeds on the Launce, which, unfortunately for 
themselves, are a favourite diet with all the migrating kinds of 
the Salmon family. But they feed also on crustacean animals, 
and even on some species of confervae, or river weeds. In the 
river they are taken with the worm and fly; although, as being 
the Fordidge Trout, of which an account is given by Izaak 
Walton, its taking a bait in the river is strongly questioned, 
and this patriarch of angling was not in the habit of fishing 
with a fly. He represents the flesh of this species to be 
decidedly white, but Mr. Jenyns says its colour is red: all 
agree in its being highly valued at table. 
The Salmon Trout might be mistaken for the Salmon in 
some of its varieties, as well from its size in comparison with 
the ordinary growth of the latter, as its general shape; and yet 
in its aspect there appears a marked difference between them. 
This species is comparatively stouter, and carries its bulk more 
closely to the tail. The front also appears sharper; the gape 
scarcely so large; eyes somewhat larger and nearer the snout. 
Teeth in the vomer in a longer row', and not so prone to be 
shed with the advance of age. Border of the gill- covers more- 
produced above the pectoral fin, which fin is also more pointed; 
dorsal more extended, its first rays scarcely so far advanced; 
ventrals more pointed; as are the first rays of the anal, and 
also proportionally longer than the following rays. According 
to Mr. Yarrell, the articulation at the base of the last dorsal 
fin ray is exactly half-way betw'een the point of the nose and 
end of the tail, but I find it a little nearer the head; the 
anterior edge of the adipose fin half-way between the base of 
the last ray of the dorsal fin and the end of the tail. Colour 
of the upper parts and tail dark, with a tinge of blue; with, 
in the example described, some broad patches at the beginning 
of the back, of a lighter colour; a tinge of pink on the cheeks 
and along the sides; whitish with a tinge of yellow below'; a 
green dash behind the eyes; a strong tinge of red on the adipose 
fin. Some rather small shot-like spots on the gill-covers; many 
irregular crossed marks along the sides; ventral fins very light. 
In a fish of this species from Sweden the rays of the dorsal 
fin were fifteen, of which the first was very short, the third 
the longest; anal twelve, the two last from one root; ventral 
nine, caudal twenty, pectoral fifteen. 
