HAUNTS AND IIAIMTS. KiT 



accordinp^ to the opinions of what I (Khmm the hcst authorities, 

 there is but one distinct spcciis. 



Kndless attempts have bi-en niatie in llii^hiiid to distinj^uish 

 and tU'tine fresh species ; hut these have, in uiy judj^ment, all 

 faiU'il. Accordiut; to Mr. Aj^assiz, wliosc opinion on this sub- 

 ject I consider piiraniouiit to all others, the (iillaroo, or (iiz/.ard- 

 trout, as it is sometimes erroneously called by the Irish, and 

 some of tlie Scottish writers, is merely a casual \arii'tv of the 

 Salmo Fariu. The distinction, which consists principally in the 

 thickness and induration of the stoniaeh, having' arisen from 

 feeding on shell-lish, in the first instance, in individuals, has 

 been gradually ingrafted on generations, until, in process of 

 time, it has become a permanent type. 



Although this variety is not known to exist on this continent, 

 1 have a very strong suspicion, from many circumstances which 

 I have heard, on good authority, concerning the Trout of the 

 Marshpce river, in Massachusetts, that on examination, it will 

 i)e found to possess some of the leading peculiarities of this fish, 

 particularly the indurated stomach. I have never had an opi)or- 

 tunity of seeing tlie Trout of this river ; but I know that it has 

 many peculiarities of iiabit resend)ling those of the Ciillaroo, 

 especially that of feeding on shell-fish, a friend oi' mine having 

 actually succeeded in taking them with small white crabs, at a 

 time when they would look at no otlier bait. 



I mention this, merely by way of suggestion, as offering an 

 interesting subject of investigation for naturalists. 



Sir Humphrey Davy, in his " Salmonia," rather leans to the 

 idea that the (iillaroo is a distinct species, though he leav<',s 

 it uncrrtnin whether it ma_\ not be a permanent variitv ; his 



