300 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



examination of several hundred of these fish taken in vari- 

 ous rivers in England and Scotland, I am induced to con- 

 sider them as not all of one species, but the young of vari- 

 ous species or varieties of migratory trout, in company with 

 the young of the salmon, with the Salmo salmulus or parr, 

 and with different varieties of the common fresh-water 

 trout ; all of which have received the names of Heppers, 

 Brandlings, Samlets, Fingerlings, GravelUngs, Laspings, 

 Skirtings, and Sparlings. 



The parr is said to be an abundant species in all the clear 

 running streams in England, Wales, and the north of Scot- 

 land ; but in the last-named country it begins to decrease, 

 so as to become comparatively rare towards the north. Sir 

 William Jardine, whose authority stands high as a natu- 

 ralist, and who is known to have devoted much attention 

 to the natural history of the fresh-water fishes, states " that 

 the difference of opinion among ichthyologists, or rather 

 the difficulty which they appear to have in forming one, 

 whether this fish is distinct, or only the young of some 

 others, has rendered the solution of it interesting. The 

 greatest uncertainty, however, has latterly resolved itself into 

 whether the parr was distinct, or a variety, or young, of the 

 trout, S. jario ; with the migratory salmon it has no con- 

 nection whatever." 



" Among the British Salmonidce, there^is no fish whose 

 habits are so regular, or the colours and markings so con- 

 stant. It frequents the clearest streams, delighting in the 

 shallower fords or heads of the streams, having a fine gra- 

 velly bottom, and hanging there in shoals, in constant acti- 

 vity, apparently day and night. It takes any bait at any 

 time with the greatest freedom ; and hundreds may be 

 taken when no trout, either large or small, will rise, 

 though abundant among them. That part of its history 



