FEBRUAEY 53 



continental Asia, is plentiful almost everywhere in Europe 

 except Denmark and Scandinavia — although Linnseus says 

 that King Frederick of Sweden endeavoured to establish 

 it in his dominions — and does not exist in America. I 

 write these lines beside a small burn flowing independently 

 into the sea on the west coast of Scotland. It abounds, 

 with loaches, greatly to the profit of certain pink-fleshed 

 trout which inhabit the said water. What I should like 

 to know is: How did the loaches get into this isolated 

 burn? and how have they managed to maintain their 

 identity with their kindred in Japan ? For the loaches 

 belong to the carps — a family noted for variability. 



