146 
the solution of peat, they were retransferred to fresh water, 5 
died during March, 1 hatched March 27th, 3 on the 28th but 2 
of these died the same day, and 2 on the 29th; none of the 
remainder came out. 
In these experiments I have observed that 74 lbs. of moist 
peat were employed, and on weighing the residue in February, 
1} lbs., irrespective of } Ib. of thick sediment, remained in the 
reservoir. Of course a good deal of this weight was from the 
fluid contained, but supposing it to have been dry, such would 
have been equivalent to the loss of 53 Ibs. of peat carried over 
the eggs during 69 days. This quantity would be as much as 
would probably occur during floods, but it must be remarked 
that when the amount on the eggs appeared excessive, they 
were washed, and a quantity of sediment thus removed. But 
in spite of this none regained the clearness of ova which had 
not been subjected to this solution, even after they had been 
upwards of a month in a stream of clean water, for a con- 
siderable portion of their surface continued brown from 
adhering grains. 
Attempts were made to investigate the state of these em- 
bryos, both prior and subsequent to hatching, in order to 
ascertain what had been the effect of the peat in solution. 
For it must be clear that moss or sphagnum in this condition 
could hardly be deleterious, except mechanically, by impeding 
or stopping the imbibition of gases, and thus acting on the 
respiration of the embryo. Several specimens of trout 
obtained from this peaty locality were sent to me, they were 
rather undersized, which may have been the result of poverty of 
food, while their heads were disproportionately long to that of 
their bodies when compared with Howietoun raised fish—their 
eyes likewise were somewhat large. However, everyone who 
has fished in Scotland must be aware that some splendid trout 
are obtainable from streams flowing through peaty localities, 
even when it is of sufficient amount to stain the general colour 
of the fish of a dark hue. 
The observations made on the embryos, and in which I was 
assisted by Mr E. Wethered, who most kindly photographed some 
