SAMLET, OR TARR. 247 



and that its being found in rivers through the year, or at least 

 the greater portion of it, is only because there are considerable 

 numbers of the fish thus marked, of the progeny of the Salmon, 

 which from causes yet unknown, are slower than others of the 

 same deposit, in passing through their natural changes, even to 

 the extent of two or, as it may happen, three years. So fre- 

 quently, and, it would appear, unconsciously have these bands 

 been dwelt on as a proof of identity of species, and so powerful 

 has been the operation of Mr. Shaw's language and experiments 

 on the minds of some eminent naturalists, that at last the bands 

 themselves, without reference to any other supposed marks of 

 distinction, have received the appellation of Parr; and it is on 

 this account that in treating of the species now under consider- 

 ation, we have judged it best to jilace this disputed denomination 

 in the second place, and only as a synonym; and to distinguish 

 the fish we hold to be distinct by its also ancient name of Samlet. 

 The question at present therefore is not whether the young of 

 the Salmon, and we may add of some others of the same family, 

 may not remain in fresh water for more than a year, during 

 which they may bear on the sides a series of dusky marks at 

 this time, denominated Parr-bands; but whether there be not 

 also a distinct species which bears those marks, and which by 

 something like arrested development, is never deprived of 

 them. 



Mr. Shaw's perseverance in conducting his experiments, and 

 his honesty in stating the doubts he felt as regards some of 

 his observations, are deserving of great praise; but his conclusions 

 in some particulars appear to be far from satisfactory, and, as 

 regards the true nature of a fish he terms the Parr, the 

 question appears to be just exactly where he found it. It 

 appears that after the confinement of a year, these Belted 

 Salmon were permitted to follow their inclination in passing 

 into the river ; but it is far from being shewn, or indeed 

 rendered probable, that these were the same fish that were 

 afterwards obtained in the river with enlarged milts, or that 

 they were certainly of the same species. The bands themselves 

 were no proof of this; and hence it is exceedingly questionable 

 whether any of these diminutive examples could have been 

 engaged in preparing the ground for the reception of the roe, 

 an ofiice in which the male Salmon is always expected to 



