History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Osmerus. FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS. 181Length from 13 to 24 inches ;weight from 3 to 6 pounds. Colour, above,duskv-green, with numerous large, subcruciibrm spots. Belly silvery, thesides" frequently with a yellow tinge.The head is large and blunt, and the""body tapers little behind the tail. The tongue usually with 5 teeth on eachside*. D. 13, P. 13, V. 10, A. 10, C 40—This fish differs from the formern the clumsiness of its shape, its larger and more numerous spots in the;mouth having more teeth ; and in the lateness of its migration from the sea.The sea-trout enters rivers in the spring and summer months, while the greyis seldom observed before the end of July. I have taken four young herringsfrom its stomach, each upwards of 3 inches in length.aa Stationary in rivers.47. S Fario. Common Trout.— Body with red spots onthe lateral line. Tail slightlyforked.Trutta fluviatilis, Sibb. Scot. 25. Will. Ich. 199—S. F. Linn. Syst.i.509. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 297 — W, Brithyll ; G, Breac—In riversand lakes.Length about a foot. Colour, duskv above, with purple and red spots;beneath grey. Head blunt. D. 13, P. 13. V. 9, A. 9, C. 25. Flesh white.Devours the eggs of the salmon. "When 116— it feeds on shell-fish, as the GillarooTrout of Galway (Phil. Trans, lxiv. p. Sowerby, Brit. Misc. tab. lxi.),the coats of the stomach acquire a thickness like the gizzard of birds—Inthe river Eynion in Cardiganshire, the trout are crooked, immediately abovethe tail.Gen. XXII.—OSMERUS. Smelt.—The first dorsal finplaced more remote from the head than the ventrals. Gillflapof eight rays.48. O. Eperlanus.— Lower jaw longest; back greenish-white,sides varied with blue, belly silvery head translucent.;Experlanus, Merr. Pin. 188— Eperlanus, Will. Ich. 202.— Osmerusradiis pinse ani septendecem, Artedi, Ich. Syn. 21—Salmo Ep. Linn.Syst. i. 511. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 313. — S. Spirlin—In the sea andestuaries.Length from 9 to 12 inches. Tail forked ; scales small, deciduous. D. 11,P. 12, "V. 8, A. 14, C. 19. Emits a particular scent, which has been comparedto violets, cucumbers or rushes. This fish enters the estuaries fromthe sea in the beginning of winter, spawns in March, near the junction ofthe river with the salt water. In the Tay its principal food is the shrimp.Gen. XXIII. COREGONUS.—Minute teeth on the jaws,none on the tongue or palate.Tail forked.49. C. Thymallus.—Grayling. Scales in regular rows ;grey, with longitudinal dusky blue lines.Umbra fluviatilis, Merr. Pin. 189 Thymallus, Will. Ich. 187 Cor.maxilla superiore longiore, pinna dorsi ossiculorum viginti trium, Art.Ich. Syn. 20—Salmo Th. Linn. i.Syst. 512. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii.311. Don. Brit. Fishes, tab. lxxxviii.—In the sea, and clear andrapid streams.