INTRODUCTION. X xi 



able circumstances, a greater exercise of skill and judg- 

 ment in order to command success. 



With respect to those chapters in the volume which 

 are taken up with points of controversy on the natural 

 history of the salmonidce, I should only be doing in- 

 justice to my own conclusions and the grounds upon 

 which these are formed, were I to make any apology 

 for their introduction. The connecting -point with 

 what interests every true angler will be readily ac- 

 knowledged, and should I have dealt somewhat specu- 

 latively with one or other of the subjects under 

 discussion, it is to be hoped my doing so will be 

 regarded, rather as a sin of ignorance than as one of 

 wilful perversion. "Without any pretensions to an 

 intimate acquaintance with ichthyology, I cannot but 

 consider, as a step to further this branch of science, 

 every endeavour 'to correct its errors; and when, as 

 in the matter of the parr question, I behold the 

 mistakes of eminent naturalists rectified at the hands 

 of simple, unscientific observers, I may reasonably 

 anticipate for my views and suggestions, meagre and 

 defective as these are, a courteous and forbearing 

 reception. 



In that portion of the volume which treats of 

 salmon fishing, I have drawn out lists of the most 

 approved flies for our Scottish rivers, especially Tweed. 

 These have been extended by me considerably beyond 

 what, to my own idea, forms in point of material, an 

 efficient stock or variety, under ordinary circumstances, 



