A Question of Heredity 143 



subject of this kind were always worthy of 

 the attention of naturalists as well as anglers, 

 owing to his knowledge of pisciculture, and 

 his careful observations of trout life, dis- 

 cussed the question in an article in 'Baily's 

 Magazine' a few years since : 'Compare (he 

 wrote) by analogy the fact, which is, I believe, 

 well authenticated, that when first telegraph 

 wires were stretched along our highroads the 

 number of partridges and other birds which, 

 in fair weather, and not driven by unusual 

 force of gale, committed involuntary suicide 

 by flying against the wires was very large, 

 while in the present day such cases are com- 

 paratively unknown. This goes to prove a 

 certain reasoning power on the part of the 

 old birds and an inherited capacity for avoiding 

 the danger by their progeny.' The theory 

 of heredity in regard to the increased wari- 

 ness of the common trout, though very 

 far indeed from being proven, is quite one 

 which scientific men and naturalists may 

 treat seriously. 



