1864.] DAVY ON THE SALMONID^. 447 



same age, the ovaries are merely in tlieir rudimentary state, 

 and are indeed so small that they may readily escape obser- 

 vation, and give rise to the opinion that the parrs are exclusively 

 males. Such a notion, I am informed, is even entertained by the 

 fishermen of the river Tyne. That it is founded in error I need 

 hardly remark. When at Newcastle-on-Tyne, in September last, 

 I had an opportunity of examining, through the kindness of Dr. 

 Charlton, six specimens taken the preceding day. Four of them were 

 males, distended with milt, the milt nearly mature, and, notwith- 

 standing, the fish had not fallen off in condition, — a noteworthy 

 circumstance. Two had no vestiges of testes, nor could I discover 

 their ovaries, which may have been owing to solution, to which 

 the parts of the young fish are especially liable where adjoining to 

 the pyloric appendices. From such observations as I have made 

 when on anGjlins: excursions, I can state with confidence that the 

 proportion as to number of the two sexes is much the same. A 

 question naturally arises, is this peculiarity of the early develop- 

 ment of the male organs confined to the salmon {Salmo salar'^^ or 

 is it to be met with in its congeners of the same stage of growth ? 

 The common opinion is that the parr of the sea-trout {S. trutta) 

 has the same peculiarity ; but I am not aware that the conclusion is 

 founded on precise and reliable observation. The determination of 

 this point is a desideratum. This is not an easy matter to accom- 

 plish, owing to the near resemblanne of the parr of the two species. 

 To efi"ect this, a river should be selected which is known to be 

 frequented by the sea- or white-trout, of which there are many in 

 Ireland. The probability, I think, is, that a confirmation of the 

 opinion would then be obtained. I am led to think so from the 

 few observations which I have made. These I shall relate. They 

 were made, or part taken, in Leeven, a river that flows out of 

 Windermere, and is frequented by salmon and sea-trout ; the latter 

 being most plentiful. Two parrs taken on the 29th of September 

 were each about four inches long; the milt in each was large; 

 their fins were yellow. From their size and yellow fins they were 

 supposed to be the young of the sea-trout, or " morts," the local 

 designation. Six parrs, taken on the 21st of October, were about 

 six inches in length. Of these four were males ; their testes 

 voluminous, their fins light-yellowish. These were supposed to be 

 the young of the salmon. A parr taken on the 1st of January 

 was six and a quarter inches in length ; it weighed 740 grains ; the 

 testes weighed fifty-five grains; the contents were nearly liquid J 



