92 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



propensities which render it and its congeners so remark- 

 able. 1 Thus I am led to consider that Foula bears most 

 important testimony against the soundness of Mr. Laurence 

 Edmondston's views upon this subject ; and I sincerely hope 

 that the Skuas at Hermanness may multiply to such an 

 extent as to become themselves witnesses against that 

 gentleman ; and I believe, indeed, from the Unst report, that 

 they will soon not fail to do so. 



The Great Skua would seem to be confined to the 

 immediate vicinity of its chosen haunts during the nesting 

 season, for during a month's cruise among the Shetlands 

 in the season of 1890, when our attention was devoted 

 to birds, Mr. Harvie-Brown and the writer never observed 

 this species except in the proximity of its stations. 



ON MALFORMED TROUT FROM SCOTTISH 

 WATERS. No. I. 



By R. H. TRAQUAIR, M.D., F.R.S. 



Keeper of the Natural History Collections in the Museum of Science 



and Art, Edinburgh. 



PLATES III., IV., V. 



IT is now twenty-one years ago since the late Mr. C. W. 

 Peach 2 drew attention to a peculiar malformation of the 

 caudal fin occurring abundantly in trout Salmo fario, L., 

 from Loch-na-Maorachan, a small lake in Islay. In these 

 fish, which have since that time been popularly called 

 " Tailless Trout," the caudal fin, instead of showing a large 

 broad triangular expansion of the usual form in this species, 

 is stiff, abortive in development, and rounded posteriorly, look- 

 ing indeed at first sight as if some one had with a pair of 



1 Dr. Edmonston, of Unst, informed Macgillivray (" British Birds," 1852, v. p. 

 483) that this bird "does not possess the habit of his congener, the Arctic Gull, 

 that of making some other water-birds not only cater fish but cook it for his 

 table. He has a good beak and pinions of his own, and he disdains to sorn 

 for the disgorgement of others." This is an important statement by one who 

 had unusual opportunities for observation ; but it would seem not to be the 

 experience of later authorities. 



2 "Brit. Assoc. Rep." Aug. 1871, Transactions of Sections, p. 133. 



