Effects of Change of Habits and Light, 23 i 



whereas the trout of clear sunny brooks, as also the sea 

 sun-fish, display most beautiful vermilion and golden spots 

 with intensity of the white, the latter often appearing like 

 molten silver * 



The aspect of the fish changes rapidly once it has got into 

 the tidal waters, the contour then being much like that of the 

 sea trout, whilst the flesh becomes pink from feeding on mol- 

 lusca and echinae. So changed is the individual then from the 

 permanent denizens which do not migrate to the sea, that it is 

 a common assertion by persons who capture the fish on such 

 rivers as the Miaramichi that there are " two sea trouts " met 

 with in summer, the one being the above and the other the 

 true sea or salmon trout. I procured many specimens of the 

 former, and after subjecting them to careful comparison, find 

 that, with the exception of the brilliancy of colouring and 

 salmon-like form, all were but highly-dappled brook trouts, very 

 different, it must be granted, from denizens of the forest-shaded 

 loch or dark inland waters. Indeed, so distinct are the colour- 

 ings of the trout after it has dipped itself in the sea, and those 

 of individuals from the latter, that when they are placed side 

 by side I do not blame the observer trusting to outward signs 

 in connection with colouring, should he at once pronounce 

 them distinct species ; moreover, irrespective of the conditions 

 above mentioned, no doubt the long sojourn under ice exer- 

 cises also an influence, as the colouring of fishes is appa- 

 rently greatly predisposed to be acted on by these and such- 

 like influences. 



The brook trout averages from one to two pounds, the 

 largest attaining to five or six pounds. Although many pro- 



* I noticed that this species is very sedentary in many brooks and in- 

 fluents of the St. John River ; so much so, that there is no difficulty in 

 distinguishing individuals from different localities. The red-bellied trout 

 (S. erythro-gastra of Dekay) is a good example of the highly coloured 

 denizen of the clear sunny waters, especially such as flow over the Devo- 

 nian and Silurian slates of the middle and northern portions of the 

 province. 



