226 SALMONID^ OF BRITAIN. 



trout were received from Mr. Andrews of Guildford,* and these were placed in tlie 

 ponds by Mr. Ogden, of Cheltenham. In Aug-ust, 1886, I was informed that, it 

 having become necessary to remove these fish to a more suitable locality, they had 

 been capturing them, and very great differences were perceptible both in size and 

 colour among these two sets of hshes— those in the upper pond being silvery with 

 a few black spots, whereas those in the lower pond were of a much larger size, 

 covered with spots, and having purple and golden reflections. Having obtained 

 leave, I visited these ponds, accompanied by Mr. Ogden, on August 2 5th, ^1886, and 

 found the temperature of the water at 2.45 p.m. to be from 57° to 65° Fahr. m 

 accordance with depth and the side of the pond investigated. The lower pond 

 was the deeper, and in it were large quantities of the American weed, Anacharis 

 olcinastrMm, also some of the Cliara, while on the surface was a considerable 

 amount of the water cvoiv&iooi {Uanunculus aquatilis); whereas in the upper pond 

 there were fewer weeds, but some of the Pimpinella saxifraga was present near its 



upper end. . 



It seemed, so far as we could ascertain, that more animal pond-lite was present 

 in the lower pond among the greater amount of vegetation, especially in the 

 sessile-eyed crustaceans Gammarus pulex, and water-snails Limnea ovata variety 

 peregra. These forms were, however, also present in the upper pond,^where a 

 small water-newt was also netted. During the month of April, 1866, when 

 investigating the stream which issues from the lower end of these ponds, 

 I found enormous numbers of tadpoles and the larvas of PhryganeidiB and 

 Ephemeridse. 



A fish captured from the upper pond (plate vii, fig. 2) was 7 inches long, its 

 colours o-enerally silvery with a golden abdomen, and a few black spots along the 

 sides, three of which were below the lateral-line and two on it, as well as three 

 red ones; cheeks silvery yellow tinged with gold. Some spots on the rayed dorsal 

 fin, which had a white black-based edge at its upper angle ; while the ventral and 

 anal fins had a very distinct white black-based edging. Upper and lower rays of 

 caudal fin, and the upper end of the adipose dorsal, orange-edged. Fifty-two 

 cajcal appendages. A male, but sterile. The appearance of this fish as to colour 

 was, Mr. Ogden observed, similar to the others previously removed from the 

 pond. 



Two male fishes were taken from the lower pond, one ten, the other eleven 

 inches lone. They were generally purplish, with golden reflections. The side of 

 the body (of one which was most critically examined) from the upper edge of the 

 pectoral fin to and above the lateral-line, was closely dotted with ocellated black 

 spots, while there were also some red ones, five of which were on the lateral-line. 

 Cheeks and abdomen golden, becoming white on the chest. Dorsal fin with 

 numerous spots, and a pink black-edged upper angle. Adipose dorsal with a red 

 edge and several black spots. Pectoral and ventral chrome with white edges, base 

 dark. Sixty-two ca?cal appendages. The generative organs well developed. 

 Twenty-two small Limnea-sheWs in its stomach. 



Near the end of the year 1886 an interesting occuri-ence occurred among these 

 fish, which would seem to prove that Lochlevens throwing back to brook trout, 

 may be consequent upon a diminished supply of food causing deterioration. 

 During the last week in November Mr. Ogden was near this lower pond, and saw 

 a large trout rise ; so he returned to the house, and having obtained his fishing- 

 tackle, made a cast over it and captured it at the first throw. It proved to be 

 15 oz. in weight, in good condition, but was described to me as having been 

 nearly black (similar to plate vi, fig. 1), while it was the largest fish that has been 

 seen there. In fact this pond latterly had very few fish in it (most having been 

 removed) ; leaving a more abundant supply of food for those which remained ; 

 consequently this "fish had grown larger and taken on the Lochleven trout colours. 



* Mr. Andrews, of Westgate House, Guildford, wrote (September 14th, 1886) :— " The yearhng 

 fish suppUed to Mr. Ogden, of Cheltenham, in 1885, were Lochlevens reared from eggs which 

 were sent me from Howietoun. There can be no doubt of their being from ova from Stirling, as 

 they were put in a pond quite distinct from the others on a different water-shed." 



