•pREFACE. 



~rT is hoped that this Work on the Fresh-water Fishes of the British Isles will be found 

 acceptable, and prove generally useful. A description and a coloured drawing of every 

 fresh-water species will, it is believed, enable any one to identify any fish that may be met 

 with. Several species of Sahnonidcc are now here for the first time illustrated by coloured 

 drawings; the illustrations, in every case where possible, having been made from specimens 

 of the fish themselves. 



It only remains for me to express my thanks to those gentlemen who have rendered me 

 assistance in procuring specimens, or otherwise helping me. I must especially thank Dr. A. 

 Gunther, of the British Museum — the highest living ichthyological authority* — for permission 

 to make use of the Plates in The Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, (1862, 1863, 

 1865,) illustrating his papers on the British species of Charr ; I have also to thank the Council 

 of that Society for granting me the same permission. I have been fortunate enough to see 

 and handle all the British Charrs, and specimens of all the species have been before the 

 artist engaged in this work, but the Plates above named were found most useful in giving 

 the characteristic colouration which specimens some days out of the water, or specimens 

 preserved in spirits, almost invariably, lose. I have also, through the kindness of Dr. Gunther, 

 had opportunities of examining specimens of various fish in the British Museum ; and the 

 artist has been able to take figures of some species which are either rare, or which I failed 

 to procure for myself. 



To Mr. Masefield, of Ellerton Hall, Shropshire, a most successful pisciculturist, I am 

 indebted for specimens of several species, one of the most interesting of which is the 

 Golden Tench. I have also to express my thanks to my brother-in-law, Lieutenant-Colonel 

 Masefield, and to my brother. Major Henry Houghton, for assistance and information. I am 

 greatly obliged to Mr. Thomas Brooke, of the Castle, Lough Esk, and to Mr. Arthur R. 

 Wallace, of Dublin, for several specimens of that very local species. Cole's Charr (Salnw 

 colli). I owe many thanks to Mr. Alexander Scott, of the Garrison Hotel, Lough Melvin, 

 for specimens of Gray's Charr (S. grayij, and the Great Lake Trout (S. froxj. To Mr. 



* In acknowledgment of Dr. Giinther's services the Council of the Royal Society has lately presented this distin- 

 guished Naturalist with one of their medals. 



