64 Sir W. Jardine on the Cummun Trout. 



teied, but extended in the centre of the fish ahiiost to the ventral 

 fins. This trout was in extremely fine condition, the flesh red and 

 firm ; when hooked, extremely powerful, but not exhibiting the 

 great activity of the Loch Craigie variety. The food found in 

 the stomach was exclusively a i'resh water Talitrus, they never- 

 theless took gaudy flies, and salted minnows, the latter they had 

 not probably tasted even in their original state. 



The Jhurth variety., of a much less size, is from tl)e district of 

 Assyut, on the west coast of Sutherland. Loch Assynt is a con- 

 siderable sheet of water, running nearly from east to west. 

 From the western extremity to the sea there is a gradual descent, 

 the intervening country dispersed in a series of low rugged hills 

 of moor and moss. Every hollow or narrow valley is studded 

 with lochs of various sizes, from half an acre to forty or fifty in 

 extent, sometimes communicating with each other, and some 

 vvithout any apparent outlet. They form a complete chain or 

 series to the coast, and are said to be above 200 in number. It 

 was in these lochs that we found, and I may say exclusively, 

 this variety, in immense abundance, eagerly taking any bait that 

 was presented. In weight none exceeded i lb., but the greater 

 proportion were only from five to six inches in length. It is ra- 

 ther thickly formed, the fins of moderate strength, the lower ones 

 rather sharp-pointed at the extremity, the tail complete, and 

 much forked ; the colours were beautiful and brilliant, the up- 

 per parts of a rich olive-brown, which clianged to a bright king's 

 yellow beneath ; the upper two-thirds of the body, gill covers 

 and dorsal fin thickly covered over with large round black spots 

 standing in a pale circle ; on the ridge of the back these spots 

 often united, and then appeared in a lengthened form. This 

 variety is remarkable, as occurring in so wide a district, with so 

 much regularity of form, colour, and markings ; the distribu- 

 tion of them all peculiarly similar. 



The fifth variety, and the only other to be noticed, is from 

 a series of lochs between Richkonich and Laxford, and in the 

 river Laxford which issues from Loch Stach. In form it is 

 comparatively short, but remarkably deep, the fins very short 

 in proportion, rounded and muscular, and of a tench-like shape 

 different from any of the others ; while on the other hand, the 

 head was remarkable for its great length. They seemed to attain 

 considerable size, — one of four pounds weight was taken, several 



