Sir AV. Jardine on the Loch Trout. 55 



from two to two and a half. The flesh white and soft, the co- 

 lours not brilliant, and the spotting large, but placed widely 

 asunder. By the fishermen on the Laxford they were termed 

 loch trout; in contradistinction to the commonly marked trout of 

 the river. The osteology of the head of the large specimens ap- 

 pears to differ considerably from that of the common river variety, 

 but has not yet been compared with a fish of a similar size. The 

 maxillary bone is extremely strong but narrow, in length it ex- 

 ceeds that of an 18 lb. salmon. 



Having thus noticed the principal varieties which occurred 

 of the fish generally placed as S. fario, it may be remarked, 

 that I am by no means satisfied that they all belong to that 

 one species ; but I do not yet possess sufficient materials for 

 comparison, and to form a decided opinion by. 



6. Salmo Jirox. — The next fish which occurred in these wild 

 waters, is, however, a trout not only distinct from any British 

 fish, but has been pronounced by an eminent ichthyologist to be 

 diflFerent from any of the large continental species, which I have 

 never had an opportunity of seeing : it is the great grey or loch 

 trout, Salmo ferox, Jard. and Selby. 



This fish, as far as can be traced, seems to have been first no- 

 ticed in the Scotch lochs about forty-five years since, by a gentle- 

 man of Glasgow, who used to exhibit them to his friends as the 

 trophies of his expeditions. By several of our late ichthyolo- 

 gists they were, however, noticed as large trout inhabiting the 

 lochs of Scotland and Ireland ; but they appear only to have 

 looked upon them as very large individuals of the common trout, 

 and have given no description or character.* In Scotland they 

 seem generally distributed in all the larger and deeper lochs. 

 Loch Awe, Loch Laggan, upper end of Loch Shin, Lochs Loyal 

 and Assynt they certainly inhabit, roving indiscriminately, and 

 feeding nearly entirely upon the smaller fish. By persons re- 

 siding on the banks, they are taken only by set night lines, few 

 rising at the artificial fly ; but they may always be taken by strong 

 trolling tackle, baited with a small trout. They are extremely 

 voracious, and having seized the bait, they will allow themselves 



• Mr Selby and myself considered the first specimens which we took in 

 Loch Awe in Argyleshire, as a species undescribed and new to Britain, 

 and gavt it the name oi" S. fcrox, from its extreme voracity and rapacious 

 habits. 



