84 
MU. F. DAT ON THE LOCH-LEVEN TROUT. 
with the result that there was merely a trace of orange visible in 
some, but the black xvhite-edged margin to the rayed dorsal and 
anal fins was not uncommon. 
On July 5th, 1886, 1 examined the colour of the adipose dorsal 
fin in many Lochlevens, from pond 9 ; the first was rising 2-years, 
and was five inches long. It had two black spots on the adipose 
dorsal but not a trace o£ orange, and no red spots on the body. 
Several more subsequently looked at were the same. Three had a 
slight orange tinge on the adipose fin, and likewise a few red spots 
on the body ; in fact this fin was orange-tinted in all, wherein red 
spots existed on the sides, but the presence of these red spots 
was the exception, not the rule. Passing on to the nursery- 
ponds, we examined a few undersized Lochlevens which had not 
fed well ; all had their bodies red-spotted and also red on the 
adipose dorsal fin, while the rayed dorsal had a more distinctly 
black white-edged margin than was generally seen. Some of 
the fish had 2, 3, or 4 black spots on this fin. These fish would 
at once have the brook-trout livery and not pass through 
the normal silvery stage — a stage, we have been erroneously 
informed, which is an infallible test of a trout being migratory 
and sea-going. 
Plaving paid a visit to Mr. Andrews’s* * well-known fish-cultural 
establishment at Guildford, I was shown the yearling Lochlevens 
which had red spots and red edges to the upper margin of the 
adipose dorsal fin and on each lateral margin of the tail-fin. 
Here I must shortly digress to describe a hybrid specimen 
raised at Howietoun, w r hich possibly affords one of the most 
convincing proofs that could be adduced of the identity or close 
been nearly black, while it was the largest fish that has been seen. From the 
fact that this pond lately had had very few fishes in it (they having been 
removed), a more abundant supply of food was obtainable, and consequently 
this trout had grown larger and taken on the Loch-Leven trout colours. 
* Mr, Andrews (MS., Nov. 1886) finds at Guildford that “eggs of the 
Loch-Leven trout from Howietoun do very well with him ; they are hatched 
in water coming from chalk, and reared where it comes from a gravelly soil. 
The young grow more rapidly and are deeper in form than seen at the same 
age in their native home. The yearlings have the edge of the adipose dorsal 
fin and sides of the tail-fin red, and there are also some red spots on the 
body, in common with young of the brook-trout and some reputed as S.ferox.” 
Mr. Andrews continues that he “ knows of no unmistakable peculiarities ob- 
servable in the foregoing three varieties of British trout ; ” and I question if 
any one else is able to point out their existence. 
