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Observations upon the Salmonidce met with during an Excur- 

 sion to the North-west of Sutherlandshire, in Jj/ne 1 834. By 

 Sir William Jakdine, Bart., F. R. S., M. W. S., &c. &c. 

 Communicated by the Author. 



The investigation of any tribe of fishes is always difficult, 

 from the uncertainty of procuring specimens at every season, 

 and from the impossibility of tracing the habits of the creatures 

 themselves in their native element. In those genera which have 

 the species closely allied to each other, the difficulty is much in- 

 creased ; and in the family of the Salmonidae it has been long 

 felt and acknowledged, and various theories have been started, 

 which, from the difference of opinion expressed, have led to the 

 proposal of questions yet unanswered. Induced by the expecta- 

 tion of novelty in different departments of natural history, and en- 

 couraged by a liberal permission granted by the Duchess-Countess 

 of Sutherland, to examine the valuable fisheries upon her exten- 

 sive properties, a short excursion to the north-west of Scotland 

 was undertaken in June last.* The fishes inhabiting the lakes 

 and rivers formed a particular object of research ; and without 

 attempting to clear up the doubtful and mysterious points of 

 their history, I shall endeavour to notice shortly those species 

 which were met with during the above mentioned excursion. 



Migratory. — Most naturalists have divided the true salmon of 

 our waters into two sections, " those which are migratory," and 

 " those which are not migratory to the sea." At present, and for 

 the sake of simplicity, is retained this apparently natural division. 

 Of the first section, " those which are migratory," I feel pretty 

 confident in placing four species, Salnio salar, trutta, eriox, and 



albus. -f- 



1. Salmo salar, or Common Salmon.— Oi those, the first, 

 the common Salmon, will stand at the head ; first in com- 

 mercial value and importance, first in size, and first in 



• The gentlemen composing the expedition, were Mr Selby, INIr James 

 Wilson, Dr Greville, Mr John Jardine, and myself. 



-|- I am not sure that the three last specific names will stand ; although our 

 species are so limited, the unravelling of the synon_yms is extremely difficult, 

 but I trust ere long to accomplish this, and to affix more recognisable charac- 

 ters to those which belong to this country. 



