CHAR— INDIGENOUS BRITISH SPECIES. 239 



Length of head 4f to 5^, of caudal fin 6 to 6f, height of body 4| to 5j in the 

 total length. Eyes — size depends much on age, sex, and nature of locality from 

 whence procured: usually situated just in front of the middle of the length of the 

 head, from li to 2 diameters from the end of the snout and the same distance 

 apart. In some the comparative height of the body is much greater than in 

 others, and dependant on food, health, and the vicinity of the breeding season, 

 the kelts becoming emaciated. The maxilla in some extends to beneath the last 

 third of the orbit, in others to beyond the vertical from its hind margin, while it 

 is likewise slightly more strongly developed in some than it is in others. The 

 lower jaw in some varieties, as the torgoch of Wales, may be longer anteriorly 

 than the upper jaw (see p. 220 ante). The opercular pieces are of as diverse 

 shapes in the char as described in the trout, and frequently are dissimilar on 

 the opposite sides of the head, while in old males there may be a concavity over 

 the occiput. Teeth — present in the jaws and on the head of the vomer, but none 

 along the body of that bone. Fins — dorsal usually commences about midway 

 between the end of the snout and the base of the caudal fin, in some examples a 

 little nearer the snout. The pectoral and other fins are of varying lengths in 

 accordance with locality, sex, and other varying conditions. Scales — small, and 

 a much larger number of rows descending from the back of the lateral-line, than 

 there are of pierced rows along its whole extent. GcBcal appendages — these vary 

 considerably, and in a.few examples have been found as follows : — in Loch Inch 

 38 (Thompson) ; L. Rannoch, 28 ; the Lakes, 28-44, Dr. Giinther detected from 

 36 to 52, and the smallest number in those from Windermere, 36. From the same 

 locality I possess examples with 33-42, another with 28, and found the same 

 number in a specimen received from Loch Rannoch as 8. struanensis. It is 

 evident they are as inconstant as in the trout (see pp. 199, 216). Colours — these 

 again vary, but as a general rule the belly, prior to spawning, becomes of a scarlet 

 or claret colour, while there are usually some light-coloured orange or red or 

 black spots on the body and head. The front edge of the dorsal, ventral and anal, 

 as well as the upper edge of the pectoral, are often of a pure white or orange 

 colour. The variation in tints and shades are not so great in char as in trout. In 

 some, the ventral, anal, lower portion of the pectoral, and hind edge of the caudal 

 partake of the scarlet colour of the abdomen. In three specimens captured for me 

 in Loch Altnagallach, in Sutherlandshire, June 30th, 1886, the belly in all was 

 tinged with yellowish-pink ; paired fins with a reddish inner edge ; spots on body 

 tinged with red. Back, bluish -purple glossed with gold, which faded gradually 

 into the belly ; eyes golden. One from Windermere had 11 par bands. 



Varieties in colour. — "By such alone," Dr. Giinther observed, "fresh specimens 

 of Salmo salvelinus and 8. umhla, of 8. Qrayii and 8. Willoughhii, may be always 

 distinguished,", and in his division of the British species into many, he divided it 

 first in accordance with the development of the jaws and size of the teeth, which 

 are inconstant characters. He then sub-divided it in respect to the length of the 

 pectoral fins : but here it is evident that the question of sex, locality where 

 hatched and reared, and many other local circumstances, should be taken into 

 consideration. I examined eight specimens received from the lakes, and found as 

 follows : — All were from 8f to 9 inches in length ; in two the pectoral extended 

 just half the distance to the base of the ventral, and in the remainder If, 1,^-, 

 Jiij l|.j 2iVi ^-iid 2-| in the interspace, clearly showing that this is not a character 

 on which very great reliance should be placed.* 



The next subdivision insisted upon was whether the dorsal fin contained 13 or 



* Hamilton, History of British Fishes, ii, 1843, p. 143, observed that " this pretty and fine- 

 flavoured fish ia liable to great variation, and this has rendered its synonymy and history 

 somewhat confused. It was for a time supposed that the Welsh char was distinct from the char 

 of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and the Scottish lakes, and they have actually been described as 

 separate species by Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Yarrell, too, at one time favoured this view, but a more 

 careful examination has led him to the opinion that all are referrible to one variable species. . . . 

 The different states and varieties are known in this country by the names of Case Char, Gilt Char, 

 Bed Char, Silver Char, &a." Mr. W. Kinsey Dover, in his recent Natural History of the Lake 

 District, considered there were two distinct varieties of this fish, one the " silver char," the 



