1862,] DR. A. GTJNTHER 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. 



1. BeLLONELLA GRANULATA. (Woodcut, p. 36.) 



Hah. Bellona Reefs, 17 fathoms {T. M. Bayner, Esq.). 



6. Contribution to the Knowledge of the British 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 in a 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 specimeus of Charr are of little or no use. 



