80 SALMONID^. 



all — have, in their extreme youth, transverse bluish or olive- 

 coloured markings ; that they have all been confounded with one 

 another, and — if there be such a fish — with the Parr proper ; 

 and that from this confusion, and the want of discrimination 

 on the part of the observers, have arisen all the contradictory 

 accounts of Salmon, Salmon Trout, Bull Trout, and Common 

 Trout, raised from the veritable Parr. 



Whether there do or do not exist a very small distinct species 

 of Salmo in Great Britain, which retain these marks to matu- 

 rity, is a matter of little comparative moment, though inter- 

 esting to the naturalist. The first question was of the greatest 

 importance, as involving the whole subject of reproduction of 

 species ; inasmuch as the facts, as asserted and formerly 

 believed, were directly analogous to this, that the eggs of a 

 barn-door fowl, of one laying, were hatched bantams, quail, 

 guinea-hens, pea-fowl, and any other gallinaceous fowl you 

 please. 



On this continent, assuredly, there is no distinct Parr, although 

 undoubtedly it will appear hereafter, that like the young of 

 every one of the family, like the true Salmon, and the greater 

 Lake Trout, and the Brook Trout, the other species without 

 exception have the Parr markings. 



On this topic I have dwelt somewhat at length, yet I trust 

 not so long as to weary my readers, the great interest of the 

 point at issue, and the almost interminable discussion which has 

 been maintained on the subject, rendering me peculiarly anxious 

 to adduce something new and to the point ; which, thanks to 

 the kind assistance of my friend, Mr. Agassiz, I trust I have 

 succeeded in doing. 



