named species, or (7) one or other of those named but 

 modified by transfer to a new environment. If the indi- 

 viduals which prevail agreed with or fell within the 

 classified limits of any one species we would not have the 

 slightest difiiculty in determining their specific value ; but 

 when no one individual comes exactly within the limits of 

 the written characters, it is necessary that the seven pro- 

 positions advanced by me should be answered satisfactorily 

 before any one can pronounce with confidence on the subject. 



Mr. Allport, who knew very well the niceties of dis- 

 tinction between S. salar and S. trutta, inclined strongly to 

 the opinion that our Derwent Salmonoids are grilse of the 

 former, and not S. trutta. Dr. Giinther and Professor 

 M*Coy have had the disadvantage of determining the 

 nature of the species from single individuals sent to them 

 at odd times. They consequently, from such disconnected 

 points, could have no means of determining the curve of 

 variability, and I am not surprised therefore that, respec- 

 tively, at different times, they have pronounced certain 

 individuals to be S. salar, S. trutta, S. Cambricus, and a 

 hybrid between S. salar and S. trutta. Odd specimens 

 cannot determine the curve of variability, nor can they 

 determine whether the four fish, so differently named, 

 were not after all the progeny of the same parents. 



The following are curious facts. A Brown Trout, caught 

 in the Mersey, with a coarse head, weighing 22J lbs., girth 

 24 inches, contained 7 lbs. of very large mature ova. Each 

 ovum was of a pale straw colour, with a conspicuous pinkish 

 nucleus. The colour of the pinkish nucleus gave a decidedly 

 pinkish tinge to the ova in mass. The pectoral fin of this 

 fish had 16 distinct rays. 



A short, but silvery variety of Brown Trout, which 

 frequents the wharves in brackish water at Launceston, 

 weighing about 5 lbs., has pinkish flesh, and well-developed 

 pyloric appendages. In one individual I counted as many 

 as 72, all of them larger than the average size. A fish of 

 similar habit, called by some '^ White Trout," is found, 

 common, in brackish water at Bridgewater. The latter, 

 however, is generally more elongate, and individuals have 

 been captured over 22^ lbs. in weight. 



A handsome migratory Salmonoid, caught recently below 

 Bridgewater, weight 9 lbs., total length 28 inches. In colour, 

 form of body and tail, shape of caudal and other notable 

 characters, it agreed with the characteristics of S. salar ; yet 

 in the tail series of transverse scales, certain characters of 



