THE GILLAKOO TROUT. 155 



It does not occur in the Baren. 



One which I got was taken in the eel-net at Toome, the other two be- 

 tween Shane's Castle and the Six-mile Water. These three, and one I saw 

 in Belfast market, had large scarlet spots, ^ of an inch in diameter, from 

 lateral line towards the belly, which partook more or less of a golden 

 colour. None of the other trout approximating these in size were 

 coloured at all like them in either of the above characters. 



The fishermen consider them inferior to the other Sahnonidce for the 

 table. 



3farch 2ith, 1835. — I purchased in Belfast market a specimen of this 

 fish from Lough Neagh ; its dimensions, &:c., are as follows : — Length, 23 

 inches; weight, 4J- pounds; depth, 5:j- inches. B. 11 at one side, 12 

 rays at other ; D. 2jl2 ; P. 14 : V. 9 ; A. 2,11 ; C. 19. The two last rays 

 springing fi-om same base, in D. and A. fins, are reckoned as 2. 



Irides, silvery, clouded with black ; colour, similar to what it is in 

 autumn, but not quite so intense, having several large scarlet spots on 

 and below lateral line. Towards the belly it is of a rich golden colour, 

 tinged with a faint blush of rose colour ; under parts white, becoming 

 deeper in colour towards the vent, where it is cream-coloured. D. fin 

 spotted over ; C. of different shades of brown, with upper portion spotted, 

 terminated by a regular band of yellowish brown ; P. fins tipped with 

 amber brown ; V. and A. tipped with yellowish brown ; upper jaw projects 

 over lower when the mouth is closed. I took two specimens of Paludina 

 impm'u from its mouth.* 



Amiust 2'th, 1836. — Mr. Hyndman states that a Gillaroo from Lough 

 Neagh, opened by him to-day, contained ova the size of small peas. 



April Sth, 1835. — I purchased a Gillaroo trout in Belfast market of 1 lb. 

 ■weight, which was caught in Lough Neagh. Its length is 14 inches. 

 Breadth, 3^ inches. B. 11 at one side, 12 at the other ; D. 2jll (last ray 

 double from base) ; P. 14; V. 1|9 ; A. 2110 (last ray double from base) ; 

 C. 19. Irides, silvery tinged with yellow, very faintly clouded with black. 

 Body of fish same colour as usual, though scarlet spots however appear. 

 The roseate, golden colour of this specimen, below lateral line, is, as in 

 all other specimens I have seen, quite peculiar ; head spotted over the top. 

 P. and V. fins of an amber colour, A. fin exhibits a tinge of pale amber, 

 C. not regularly banded as in last specimen :• see bottle for contents of 

 stomach which was opened in London. Vertebrte 54. April 25th, 1841. 

 My attention was arrested, in passing through the market, by a Gillaroo 

 trout, its asjiect, with the deep golden sides (lower portion of), being very 

 conspicuous. Its small teeth too were displayed. I purchased it for the 

 Museum. It is two feet in length ; from the sesophagus to the anus it 

 was entirely filled with Paludina inqmra and Valvuta obiusa, they nearly 

 fiUed a large tea-cup. Contents of the stomach very thick, fish very fat, 

 the cocca were imbedded in actual fat. 



Oct. IHth, 1836. — I examined the contents of the stomach of a Gil- 

 laroo, put up for Dr. Scouler, and found it to contain only (excepting 

 a minute pebble) specimens of Gulnaria lacustris, which were of middle 

 size, and upwards of eighty in number. 



Oct. 37-d, 1837. — 1 bouglit a Gillaroo of seven pounds weight from Lough 

 Neagh. It is 27 inches long and 6 inches deep. IJ. fin begins 11^* inches 

 from snout ; V. 1 inch behind it ; Adi])ose fin 1 inch 10 lines long. On 

 the left-hand side it has but four scarlet spots, which are on the hinder 



* This is the specimen I gave Mr. Yarrell ; he has figured it. 



