THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 215 



of a description almost precisely similar. Undoubtedly gtrata has had a 

 great deal to do with the difference in these examples. 



In connection with the trout of Luxilian there are one or two remark- 

 able circumstances quite worthy of notice here. It appears that the pools 

 are in the open country, and unconnected with any river or stream, 

 seeming, in fact, to be formed from pits or hollows, excavated in past 

 time for the purpose of working tin ; how the fish got in these can hardly 

 be guessed at. However, there they are, and their appearances are 

 divided into two sorts. The first specimens have the anterior margin of 

 the dorsal fin, and also the adipose, red ; the upper and lower portions 

 of the tail not rounded, and both margins red, with no bright line on the 

 anterior border of the anal. In the second case and larger fish, there 

 are no marks of red on either body or fins ; there is a slight tinge of 

 yellow on the cheeks, and on the body some cross-shaped marks ; the 

 points of the tail are rounded, and the anterior of the anal fin is faintly 

 white. 



Sir W. Jardine's second variety was found in Loch Shin, about three 

 or four miles from Loch Craigie. The water is a very deep brown colour, 

 and the bottom is gravelly, rocky, and sandy, and its banks are mossy. 

 The trout are well-conditioned fish and of somewhat longish appearance, 

 though not, therefore, ungraceful. On the contrary, the specimens I have 

 seen present lines of great beauty. The characteristics of the fish are 

 widely different from those of the foregoing, however. The fins are all 

 lengthened in comparison, and sharp pointed and presumably powerful ; 

 the dorsal rises high in front, and the first ray of the anal fin is double 

 the length of the last. The configuration of the scales is also longer and 

 narrower in proportion than that of any other. The hues of the fish are 

 by no means as brilliant as the first-named variety ; the spots are full and 

 round. It will thus be seen that a considerable difference of general 

 appearance obtains between these two specimens alone. 



The third variety given by this naturalist 'is from a small loch on the 

 Barnnie range, of very considerable elevation. The strata is limestone, 

 and the water of a dull tint, though clear ; the banks are mossy. In com- 

 parison with either or both of the two preceding, the nose or muzzle is 

 blunt, the length to the extremity of the gill-covers great in proportion ; 

 the body very thick and round ; fins stalwart and muscular ; the tail 

 square. The prevailing colour is a purplish olive, shading from greyish 

 to golden-yellow, the whole, including fins, tinted with a rich sheen of 

 pale purple. The spotting is remarkably beautiful. Bound sepia spots 

 in a pale square predominate in the upper part of the fish ; lower, they 

 are thinner and more scattered. The quality of the flesh is very good, 

 being red, and firm in colour and texture. 



