126 SALMONID^E. 



observed that they frequent the stony parts only which re- 

 semble the bottom of the Brathay. 



Charr, even at the same season of the year, exhibit con- 

 siderable difference in colour, which has been attributed to 

 different causes. M. J urine, when describing the Salmo 

 umbla of the lake of Geneva, which fish there is little or no 

 doubt is identical with our Charr, says the females are 

 the finest in colour. Mr. Mascall, in a communication to 

 the Magazine of Natural History for April 1835, states that 

 he found the males of the Charr of Ennerdale Lake in Cum- 

 berland superior to the females in colour. It is not impro- 

 bable that the degree of colour may depend, not so much 

 upon the sex, as upon the constitutional vigour of the indivi- 

 dual fish ; a circumstance observed in the periodical assump- 

 tion of peculiar tints in other animals. In reference to these 

 variations in the intensity of the colours, several distinctions 

 have been supposed to exist in the Charr of our lakes, and 

 the names of Case Charr, Gilt Charr, Red Charr, and Silver 

 Charr have been applied to them : Pennant, however, states 

 that, after the closest examination, he was unable to discover 

 any specific difference. 



The most common size of our Charr is from nine to twelve 

 inches in length ; they are said occasionally to attain the 

 length of two feet ; the largest specimen in my possession 

 measures eighteen inches. The finest coloured specimen I 

 ever saw was brought me by my friends J. B. Giles and W. 

 C. Hewitson, from Coniston Water, in the month of May. 

 They are considered to be in the greatest perfection as food 

 from July to October. 



The length of the head compared to the length of the 

 head and body is as one to five ; the depth of the body 

 greater than the length of the head : the commencement of 

 the dorsal fin is half-way between the point of the nose and 

 the adipose fin ; the posterior edge of the base of the adipose 



