6L4 FOURTH REPORT — 1834. 



were sometimes taken at a sweep of the common salmon draught 

 net from the weight of one pound to about three. The second 

 or smaller fish upon comparison was found to be identical with 

 the Herling of the Solway Firth, the Salmo albus of Fleming's 

 British Zoology. It occurs in numbers in proportion to the 

 first of about ten to one. 



Non-migratory Salmonida. — The North-west of Sutherland- 

 shire is studded with an immense multitude of lochs, in which 

 Trout are almost the peculiar fish ; they differ from each other 

 so much in the various districts as to warrant the suspicion that 

 more than one species is included under the common name of 

 Trout. The characters were constant in particular districts, 

 and four very marked varieties were exhibited, differing chiefly 

 in the general form, proportion of the fins, and form of the scales 

 and of the intestines. By many ichthyologists the different ap- 

 pearances of trout are all referred to S. Fario, with a most 

 extensive range of variation ; but the subject appears yet to 

 require investigation. Many of the trout in these lochs are of 

 very fine quality. 



In most of the larger lochs, particularly in the district of 

 Assynt, the Greater Grey or Lake Trout, Salmo ferox, Jard., 

 was found. This fish is noticed by several of the British writers, 

 but only as a variety of the common trout. It is distinct, and 

 possesses good specific characters. It reaches the weight of 

 twenty-five pounds. In Scotland it has been taken in Lochs 

 Awe, Shin, Loyal, Assynt, &c. ; in the latter fourteen speci- 

 mens were procured. Its food is almost exclusively fish. The 

 flesh is very coarse, and of a yellowish pink colour. 



The Char, Salmo alpiims (S. Umbla, Agass.), is found inmost 

 of the lochs ; but, from the difficulty of tempting them with any 

 bait, few were procured. They are only seen and taken in num- 

 bers when approaching themouths of the small rivulets to spawn, 

 and at that time are deteriorating in condition. They appear 

 in best condition in June and July, and might then be taken in 

 numbers with nets stretched across or into the lochs. They 

 feed on aquatic insects, but seem active chiefly during the 

 night. 



The Parr, Salmo Salmulus, Penn., was found in many rivers 

 sparingly, nowhere abundant, and apparently decreasing in 

 number towards the north. 



No other Salmonidce were met with during the excursion ; 

 but after the above remarks upon those mentioned, specimens 

 were exhibited of the Gillaroo Trout from Ireland apparently 

 only a variety of Salmo Fario. The food found in the stomach 

 consists exclusively of different species of freshwater shells, 



