MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 17 



i 



certain the species ; for, in a late excursion made 

 by Dr Graham, accompanied by his pupils, and a 

 party of scientific friends, they were mentioned as 

 above two feet in length. Trout, he says, have also 

 been taken in the Highlands above 30 lb., which 

 would prove at that period the knowledge of this 

 large species, though the distinctions were not as- 

 certained. He is wrong, however, in supposing the 

 Phinnochs to be the young of the Great Trout, 

 which he does at one or two places on the autho- 

 rity of the fishermen. He met with this fish in 

 abundance in several places. " They come in Au- 

 gust, and disappear in November. They are about 

 a foot long, their colour grey, spotted with black, 

 their flesh red : they rise eagerly to a fly. Fifteen 

 hundred are sometimes taken at a draught." This 

 is their character correctly, and in few words. They 

 are one of the most graceful of the Salmonidte, and 

 are at once known by the peculiar greyish-green of 

 their back contrasting strongly with the black spots. 

 They continue still very abundant in the rivers in 

 the north of Scotland, rising eagerly, and affording 

 much sport to the angler with light tackle. To- 

 wards the south, they appear to decrease, but are 

 perhaps to be found in most Scottish waters, though 

 the rivers running into the Solway may boast of the 

 greatest share. 



In like manner were the animals and birds sought 

 after. The alpine hare was found, and esteemed a 

 novelty, and he remarks that " it is full of frolic 



VOL. VII. B 



