THE CHAR AND THE SMELT 275 
are often taken by trout-fishers. Specimens of these Doon char 
were sent by Mr. Service, of Maxwelltown, to Dr. Gunther, 
who pronounced them to be the true Sa/velinus alpinus. 
Most of the Scottish char belong to the variety classed 
as Salmo or Salvelinus alpinus ; but those of Loch Bruaich 
are described by Dr. Giinther as identical with the char of 
Windermere, and are therefore assigned by him to the species 
S. Willughbii ; while he makes a distinct species, S. ké/linensis, 
of the char from Loch Killin, in Invernesshire, in virtue 
of the extraordinary development of its fins, the pectoral 
fins, especially, being nearly as long as the head. Loch Killin 
is a very secluded sheet of water, 2,000 feet above the sea. 
The char inhabiting it are said to be of a browner tint than 
those of England and the rest of Scotland, and dull yellow 
takes the place of brilliant red in the lower parts. 
The char of Wales, again, or Torgoch, as they are called 
in Welsh, have been given the honour of specific distinction 
under the title of Salmo or Salvelinus perisiit. But how slender 
is its claim to specific rank may be seen from Dr. Ginther’s 
explanation that it rests only upon the existence of a certain 
membrane, which is produced into a small flap covering the 
anterior segment of the nostril. The Torgoch inhabits Llan- 
berris, Llyn Quellyn, and a few other mountain lakes, and is 
a very beautiful fish, of graceful form, sea-green on the back, 
yellowish on the sides, which are ornamented with many 
reddish-orange sparkles, and vivid red on the lower parts. 
The cheeks and gill-covers are thickly spotted with black. 
Passing to Ireland, char are found irregularly distributed 
from Donegal in the north to Cork county in the south. There 
are two varieties classed as species by Dr. Gunther, Sa/velinus 
Grayi and S. Colii. The last-named variety is found in Lough 
Eske, in Donegal, and Lough Dan, in Wicklow, and is said 
never to exceed eight or nine inches in length. They retain 
the parr-markings permanently, and the belly of breeding 
males assumes a delicate rosy tint instead of the fiery hues 
