180 Straw Bonds, by G. H. Thompson. 



may be distinguished in their different stages. Colour, spotting^ 

 number of fin-rays, and general appearance, are very uncertain 

 marks. The dentition is more satisfactory, although some say 

 otherwise. Excepting hybrids (which cannot be referred with 

 certainty to any of them) it holds good in all that I have ex- 

 amined. The following is condensed from Sir John Eichardson's 

 edition of Yarrell's " British Fishes ": — 



Salmo. — A few teeth on the front of the vomer, but none ex- 

 tending backwards along the mesial line. 



S. solar, L. — Salmon. 



S. eriox, L. — Grey Trout — Bull Trout. 



8. sahelinus. — Charr. 



Faeio. — Salmons with a single row of teeth running along the 

 mesial Hne of the vomer. 



F. argenteus, Yal. — S. trutta, L. — Salmon Trout. 



F. Levenensis (Yarr.) — Lochleven Trout. 



Salab. — Vomer armed with two rows of teeth, without the re- 

 markable group in front, such as exists in Salmo and Fario. 



S. Ansonii, Val. — Common Trout. 



S.ferox (Yarr.), Great Lake Trout. 



There are other differences, such as the form of the gill-covers, 

 &c. 



Assuming these characters of the dentition to be correct, the 

 fish figured and described at p. 175 of last volume of the " Pro- 

 ceedings " could not be a Sea Trout (^S. eriox or trutta), but was 

 either a Common Trout or a hybrid, as it had the double row of 

 vomerine teeth, whereas the Salmon Trout has one row, and the 

 Bull Trout none on the mesial line. 



Straw Bonds. 



Is there anything known of an old practice in money lending, 

 to give a straw-hond ? This was a number of straws bound to- 

 gether lengthwise, and then divided with a knife ; the lender 

 and the borrower each keeping one half. My informant, Mr 

 Eobt. Simmons, of Netherton, buried an old man forty years ago, 

 who had had dealings in this way. This man, John Ttirnbull, 

 was 80 years of age when he died, so that the practice must have 

 existed in the latter part of last century. I have made many 

 enquiries, but Mr Simmons is the only person who seems to be 

 acquainted with the matter now. 



Alnwick, 1880. G. H. Thompson. 



