100 SALMONID.E. 



published in the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal 

 for January 1835, has described at considerable length the 

 variations observed in the Trout of some of the lochs of 

 Sutherlandshire. Other lochs abound with Trout which are 

 reddish, dark, or silvery, according to the clearness of the 

 water. Mr. Neill, in his Tour, has noticed the black- 

 moss Trout of Loch Knitching, and Loch Katrine is said 

 to abound also with small black Trout ; an effect considered 

 to be produced in some waters by receiving the drainings 

 of boggy moors. In streams that flow rapidly over gravelly 

 or rocky bottoms, the Trout are generally remarkable for 

 the brilliancy and beauty of their spots and colours. Trout 

 are finest in appearance and flavour from the end of May 

 till towards the end of September ; an effect produced by 

 the greater quantity and variety of nutritious food obtained 

 during that period. Two specimens of the Common Trout 

 taken early in January were unusually fine in colour for 

 that season of the year ; their stomachs on examination 

 were distended with ova of large size, which, from circum- 

 stances attending the capture of the Trout, were known 

 to be the roe of the Bull Trout. The albuminous nature 

 of this sort of food, which the Trout availed themselves 

 of, was believed to be the cause of their colour ; since other 

 Trout, procured at the same time from localities where no 

 such food could be obtained, were of the usual dark colour 

 of that season of the year. 



The author of Wild Sports in the West of Ireland refers 

 particularly to the differences observed in the Trout of that 

 country in this 35th letter : " The fishing party had been 

 successful, and returned late in the evening with two baskets 

 of Trout, which, although of small size, were remarkable for 

 beautiful shape and excellent flavour. 



" It is a curious fact, that the loughs where the party 

 angled, though situate in the same valley, and divided only 

 by a strip of moorland not above fifty yards across, united by 



