1(52 MALACOPTERYGII. 



scarlet — in all ; the ventrals and the anal fin have a white margin, and some 

 have the lower lobe of the caudal fin likewise of this colour : two or three indi- 

 viduals have a tinge of red on the caudal fin. Donovan's description of the co- 

 lour of S. Salvelinus agrees admirably with the present specimens. 



" The females in colour somewhat resemble Donovan's S. alpinus : the upper- 

 most third of the body, viewed lengthwise, from the dorsal ridge, is dusky, re- 

 lieved by lilac, becoming gi-adually paler downwards, so that the middle of the 

 sides presents a dull lilac — this part is adorned with numerous round spots of 

 similar size to those in the male, but less bright in colour ; some however are 

 scarlet, but they are chiefly either pink, or of a dull chalky pinkish hue, as re- 

 presented in Donovan's .S. alpinus ; the lowest portion of the sides is of a sil- 

 very lilac, without spots. The fins are all dusky, with a tinge of lilac ; the margin 

 of the ventrals, of the anal, and occasionally of the caudal fins, is white, as in 

 the males — there is no regular spotting on the dorsal fins, as represented in Do- 

 novan's figures of his two species. The dorsal fins of the males are nearly all 

 blackish, occasionally towards the tip transparent, which those of the females 

 generally are, and in one or two individuals of the latter sex an approximation to 

 spots may be faintly traced. One only of the males and a few of the females 

 exhibit transverse markings along the sides like the " Par," but not so con- 

 spicuously. On dissection, the milt (of the ordinary white colour) and roe (of 

 an amber * hue) are found to be just ready for exclusion ; a small 3)ortion of 

 both has been indeed shed by a few individuals. A specimen '3 inches in 

 length weighs with the ova 2\ oz., the ova separately ^ an oz. and 1| drachm. 

 On accurately reckoning these ova, which are 2 lines or |th of an inch in dia- 

 meter, they amount in number to 482 — this I should say, or 500 for round num- 

 bers, is the average produce of the species in this lake. The example was 

 selected out of seven females as of average size, and the ova as of average 

 quantity. The air-bladder is in both sexes of a beautiful reddish lilac colour, 

 like the inside of some species of North American Unio, as U. pyramidatus. 

 Lea, &c. The stomach and intestines of the greater numlser (13 were cut up) 

 were empty, but a few contained the remains of food which could rot be satis- 

 factorily determined — it consisted either of minute aquatic insects or entomos- 

 tracous Crustacea, more probably the latter. When boiled, the flesh of the 

 male was of a rich salmon colour, that of the female a very little paler in hue. 



" Nov. 16, 1838. — To the kind attention of Viscount Cole I am indebted for 

 twelve char from Lough MelvLn (partly in the County Fermanagh), sent imme- 

 diately after capture. In the accompanying note, dated Florence Court, 15th 

 November, his Lordship remarked — ' I can procure you any number you wish, 

 as the people are now taking them in cart-loads. The flesh of such as I send is 

 white and soft, and different from what that of char is in any other lough.' 



" These specimens, which are in a fresh state and excellent condition for exa- 

 mination, are all from 10 to 12 inches in length, and diff"er greatly from those of 

 Loch Grannoch, in presenting little or no beauty of appearance. The upper 

 half of the body, in both sexes, is of a dull blackish lead colour, unrelieved by 

 spotting in any but three or four individuals, which exhibit a considerable num- 

 ber of minute spots which are merely of a paler shade than the surrounding 

 parts, and consequently inconspicuous ; for more than half the space between 

 the lateral line and ventral profile they are dull lead colour, without any spots 

 except in the individuals just noticed ; the lower portion of the sides varies in 

 individuals from a pale to a rich salmon colour, which latter is seen in only one 

 or two examples. The dorsal fins are of a uniform gray and transparent ; in 

 some, when closely examined, there appear roimdish spots of a paler colour ; 

 pectorals dusky gray, darker towards the tips, except at the lower portion, 

 which, partaking of the colour of the part of the body in which it rests, is of a 

 pale pinkish white ; ventrals in the brighter-coloured individuals with a white 

 marginal line ; in the duller-coloured examples this does not appear, but all 



* This is the general colour; some are of a very pale yellow; the ova of 

 both colours are of similar size. 



