184 APPENDIX. 



the Coquet, near Warkworth the whitling, and the 

 brandling trout, samlet, or par, be the same fish at 

 different periods of growth, or whether they belong 

 to distinct species., Mr. Reed's opinion, therefore, 

 that the whitling is of a species distinct from that of 

 the salmon see, from page 68 to 73 is only to be 

 received as such, and not as decisive of the fact. To 

 pretend to find in the fishes above named a specific 

 difference from the different number of the rays in 

 the corresponding fins of each, would appear to be 

 little better than to declare a heifer of three years 

 old of a different species to a cow of eight, because 

 the latter has a greater number of rings in her 

 horns. To define species by parts which are not 

 invariable and the rays in the fins of a salmon in 

 the different periods of its growth certainly are not 

 is like the conduct of the boy who took a mark of 

 a lark's nest from a grey horse grazing near it. It 

 may indeed be true that the salmon that is a fish 

 of the species weighing upwards of nine pounds is 

 generally found to have a certain number of rays in 

 the back, tail, and vent fins, while the bull trout, whit- 

 ling, and samlet, are generally observed to have less ; 

 but this fact, standing alone, can no more be allowed 

 in proof of a specific difference, than a difference of 

 species can be inferred from the difference of their 

 respective weight. 



We know, from repeated observation, the period 

 at which most land animals arrive at maturity, that 

 is, at their perfect growth and the full developement 

 of their faculties. But with respect to the salmon 



