TKOTJT OF TIIE TIKE. 33 



One female sea trout (Hirling), 9-| by 4f = 4J oz. ; although in 

 wonderful condition it was decidedly weaker on the line than a 

 trout of a similar size. It was lively only for a few seconds, and 

 resembled in every respect (with regard to the catching) the 

 nature of the smolt. I have preserved the skin, and shall now en- 

 deavour to describe it. Teeth numerous on the vomer, &c., very 

 sharp pupil, smaller than that of a trout seven inches long, the 

 roe as little altered as in the smolt, pancreatic cceca very small, 

 more so than in ji trout of a similar size, everything in fact 

 indicating the extreme youth of the animal. The stomach con- 

 tained a shrimp or two and some flies, with a few other insects, 

 but not the salmon food, although the fish must have come from 

 the sea, not only from its appearance, but that this part of the 

 river had been ransacked in the morning, and every living thing 

 taken out in preparation for Lord Haddington's arrival from 

 London. The dorsal fin has twelve rays (nine of which are 

 branched), marked with about a dozen dark-bluish spots, pectoral 

 fin, of a yellow tinge, had thirteen rays ; pelvic, nine rays, white 

 colour; anal, nine transparent white; tail forked; fin tipped with red 

 like the common river trout ; head, particularly above the nose and 

 eyes, of a dusky green colour, spots numerous, obscure, varying in 

 size ; gill covers silvery white, with three very distinct spots on the 

 largest ; belly and sides, up to the lateral line, silvery white, 

 with a very few dark indistinct spots ; back and sides, down to 

 this line, dusky, inclining to green, with numerous dark spots, 

 indistinct and varying in size. The flesh is very red, and as an 

 article of food equalling the finest hirling. I cannot, indeed, 

 deem it anything but a young hirling. 



Five male parr-trout, average size seven inches, largest ten 

 inches ; the milt in this was large, and evidently approaching 

 the spawning state. It was in a similar condition in one seven 

 inches long; in the rest it resembled a thread. 



Nine female parr-trout, average size seven inches long. The ova 

 in the whole not in the slightest degree enlarged. 



My principal object was to obtain parr, and I may say I fished 

 for them alone, but took none ; none of the local anglers can say 

 they have seen any for a long time ; at all events, they admit 

 that they are not in the river at present. 



D 



