
DR DAVY’S OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARR. 327 
silvery integument. The back and sides, of a light greenish-brown, were marked 
by two rows of spots of a dark hue, almost black, the inferior the largest, remind- 
ing one of the bars of the parr and the marking of the young trout. Measured, 
its length was found to be one inch; its width or depth, where greatest, about 
‘16 of an inch. It was very active, and disposed to feed, darting often with avi- 
dity at any minute body thrown into the water, but only whilst in motion; and 
often after taking it into its mouth, casting it out. Fed daily, chiefly with finely- 
erated dried beef, it was kept alive till the 21st of June, when it was increased 
in length only to 1:06 inch, so inconsiderable had been its growth. The water in 
which it had been kept, and which was changed daily, was about the temperature 
50°, sometimes two or three degrees higher, seldom lower. The young fish was fre- 
quently to be seen in a restless state, as if seeking to escape. Those of the same 
brood, left in the breeding boxes, effected their escape about the middle of April, 
when, in consequence of a flood, the water overflowed. They were then from 
1:25 to 1:5 inch in length. 
In the cartilaginous fishes, the yolk is found in the cavity of the abdomen 
long after it has disappeared externally. In the torpedo I have detected it there 
as late as the fifth month from the time of hatching.* That the same happens 
in the young charr, I cannot entertain a doubt. In one instance,—that of a fish 
hatched six weeks, kept the whole of the time in the breeding-box, and which 
was nearly perfect in its form,—though no trace of the vesicle remained exter- 
nally, it was visible within, seen through the transparent parietes of the abdomen, 
distinguishable both by its form and under the microscope by the oil globules 
belonging to it. 
3. Of some Agencies and Circumstances supposed likely to influence the Ova and Young Fish. 
These, so far as I have tested them by experiment, I shall briefly notice. 
From the best information I have been able to obtain, the charr in the Lake 
District, with few exceptions, chooses for its breeding-place stony and gravelly 
shallows in the lakes in which it is found, and never, after the manner of the 
trout, ascends the small streams towards their source to deposit its spawn. The 
exceptions alluded to, which have come to my knowledge, are in the instances of 
the charr of Windermere and that of Ennerdale. The former, it is known, not 
only breeds in the lake, but also in the river Brathay; but it deserves to be kept 
in mind, that that part of the river which it selects for the purpose has a good 
deal the character of a lake, the water there being expanded, forming a small 
lake or pool, where, in parts out of the actual current, it is little more disturbed 
by the wind than the shallows of Windermere itself. The charr of the lake 
of Ennerdale—the other exception—I am assured on good authority, that of Dr 
* See Researches, Physiological and Anatomical, vol. i., p. 73. 
