TIIK CHARS. 255 



But this long-continued state of doubt concerning the differ- 

 ences in the species of this sub-family of fishes will appear 

 the more remarkable when we find that by the persevering 

 and discriminating researches of Dr. A. Gunther, of the British 

 Museum, not less than five British species have been defined 

 and described, and those for the greater part different from 

 their supposed analogies on the continent of Europe. In 

 comparison with the opportunities possessed by this learned 

 naturalist in reference to these fishes, my own have been 

 limited; but this deficiency to a large extent has been com- 

 pensated by the kindness of Dr. Gunther himself, to whom I 

 stand indebted for private communications on this, as also on 

 other kindred subjects; as also for coloured figures in illus- 

 tration of his communication to the Zoological Society on the 

 subject of the British Chars; and it is from these materials 

 I shall have the gratification of supplying much in addition 

 to what is generally known of the history and distinctions of 

 the species of this family. My thanks are also greatly due to 

 the noble Earl of Enniskillen for a supply of Irish examples 

 of these fishes, with notes of their distribution as observed 

 W himself and his friends. Nor am I in a small degree 

 indebted to Robert Embleton, Esq., already mentioned, who 

 has supplied examples of much interest, and which will be 

 pointed out in the proper place; and with the aid of these 

 materials it is hoped that we shall be able to give a more 

 sa'isfactory account of this sub-family than has hitherto come 

 under the notice of the public; but still with the acknowledg- 

 ment that much remains of the natural history of the Chars 

 to reward future research. 



It is thought most convenient, as well to the reader as the 

 " T ' : '.r, if we follow in some degree the example of Nilsson, in 

 arranging these fishes into a section by themselves under the 

 name of 



salvelini; 



although we are ready to allow that, regarded as a genus, their 

 characters are less satisfactorily distinctive than might be desired; 

 for as regards organization they might properly be classed with 

 the fishes of the genus Sahno. This Swedish naturalist remarks 

 that, like most of our own writers, after long observation he is 

 not satisfied with respect to the specific differences of such of 



