152 MALACOP. ABDOM. SALMON FAMILY. 



(Sp. J35.) C. Willuglibli. The Yendace. This 

 species is possessed of great interest, both from its 

 beauty and delicacy, and its singularly local occur- 

 rence in this country. It is probable that it is the 

 C. Mar ,rnula and C. albula of continental authors ; 

 but this is not certain ; and if it should turn out not 

 to be so, the lochs in the neighbourhood of Loch- 

 maben will be the only known locality, affording an 

 instance of restricted distribution, of which there 

 are few similar examples. The local tradition is, 

 that it was introduced into these lochs by Mary 

 Queen of Scots. It is impossible to say what truth 

 there is in this ; but if introduced at all, and from a 

 distance, it is likely to have been in the state of spawn, 

 for the fish is of too great delicacy to bear trans- 

 portation. An idea also prevails, that if the fish is 

 once taken from the water it will die, even although 

 it be immediately restored to its own element, and 

 that it can exist nowhere but in the water of the 

 Castle Loch ; a notion sufficiently disproved by its 

 occurrence in several others in the neighbourhood 

 with which the loch referred to has no communica- 

 tion. 



Sir W. Jardine, from his residence in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and intimate acquaintance with the al- 

 monidae in general, was well fitted to investigate 

 the habits and history of this species, and he has 

 published an account of it which has supplied 

 nearly all that is known on the subject. Dr. Knox 

 also turned his attention to the Vendace, and the 

 result of his inquiries appeared in the Transactions 



