FEBRUARY 53 



continental Asia, is plentiful almost everywhere in Europe 

 except Denmark and Scandinavia although Linnseus says 

 that King Frederick of Sweden endeavoured to establish 

 it in his dominions and does not exist in America. I 

 write these lines beside a small burn flowing independently 

 into the sea on the west coast of Scotland. It abounds 

 with loaches, greatly to the profit of certain pink-fleshed 

 trout which inhabit the said water. What I should like 

 to know is: How did the loaches get into this isolated 

 burn ? and how have they managed to maintain their 

 identity with their kindred in Japan ? For the loaches 

 belong to the carps a family noted for variability. 



