~ 1862.) DR. A. GUNTHER ON THE BRITISH CHARRS. 37 
outer surface of the coral is minutely granular. The polypes are 
completely retractile; the base of their tubes is strengthened with 
very minute spicula, placed in a longitudinal series parallel to each 
other. 
ky. 
1. BELLONELLA GRANULATA. (Woodcut, p. 36=) 2 
Hab. Bellona Reefs, 17 fathoms (T. M. Rayner, Esq.). 
6. ConTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE Britisu CHARRS. 
By Dr. ALBERT GUNTHER. 
(Plates V., VI., VII.) 
The production of the following paper has been induced by two 
specimens of the so-called Freshwater Herring of Lough Melvin in 
Ireland, which were procured by Joshua Walker, Esq., and sub- 
mitted to my examination. The differences from the allied Conti- 
nental species were so striking, that from the first moment I could 
scarcely doubt that I had a species before me which I had never seen 
before. In the first place it appeared necessary to compare it with 
specimens from other localities of Great Britain—with the true British 
Charr ; but, although the period of the year (November and Decem- 
ber) appeared to be the most favourable for the capture of those 
fishes, as they approach the shores to spawn, afterwards returning 
to the deepest parts of the lakes, I have been only partly successful 
in obtaining more specimens, and I particularly regret not having 
been able to examine specimens from Scotland, either ina fresh state 
or preserved in spirits*. I have obtained, however, materials suffi- 
cient for the determination of the Charrs of three localities, by the 
kind assistance of the gentlemen who will be mentioned hereafter. 
Our knowledge of the representatives of the Charr on the Continent 
is chiefly due to Heckel, Nilsson, and Rapp, in whose descriptions 
due attention has been paid to those characters by which the species 
may be distinguished ; and for a comparison of the British Charrs 
with those of the Continent I have had to rely chiefly on them. 
"My materials were the following :— 
a. Freshwater Herring of Lough Melvin. 
Two fresh specimens, mature males ; by the kindness of J. Walker, 
Esq. 
One specimen (dried skin) in the British Museum. 
b. Welsh Charr, or Torgoch. 
Nearly twenty specimens from Llanberris, all mature males; re- 
ceived by the kindness of S. P. W. Ellis, Esq., Chief Constable of 
Carnarvonshire, and G. Ellis, Esq. 
Four young specimens from the lake Coss-y-gedawl, transferred 
* Dried and stuffed specimens of Charr are of little or no use. 
