MR. F. DAY ON THE LOCH-LEVEN TllOUT. 



89 



shows the same dentition as in the form under discussion : burn- 

 trout, d 11 inches long, 2 teeth at the hind edge of the head 

 of the vomer, 10 in almost a single line along the body of that bone, 

 turning alternately right and left at their points, but in only one 

 instance are tbey in a pair. Eurther south, as in the Windrush 

 in G-loucestershire, the maxillae are stronger and the vomerine 

 teeth are more nearly in a double line than in more northern 

 specimens ; but an entire series, showing all these grades of 

 variation, may be traced in freshwater trout in most localities 

 where I have searched for it. 



The colour of the flesh of the Loch-Leven trout is said to be 

 deep red, and it is reputed to be very good eating. Whether 

 the flavour of these fish has or has not deteriorated since 

 the partial draining of the lake, as asserted by some and con- 

 tradicted by others, must ever remain unsolved, because how 

 the fish were cooked, the degree of hunger in the partakers 

 of the food, and many other circumstances would have also to 

 be taken into account ; while deciding such a question from 

 recollection would be a rather doubtful proceeding. There is a 

 legend that in olden times these fish never took a fly ; and an 

 anonymous writer in 1886, commenting upon the bad luck which 

 had attended an angling competition, observed that fly-fishing on 

 Loch Leven had been in existence for about 25 years, but 

 previous to that time these fish showed no disposition for winged 

 prey. Grranting the general accuracy of this statement would 

 seem to partially confirm the opinion of Parnell and some 

 others, that the local food has diminished in amount, and therefore 

 these fish will now take the fly. Why the charr has disappeared 

 from this lake is not material to the present inquiry. 



As food Parnell held that at Loch Leven the flesh of this form 

 of trout is of a dark red, but in the common loch or burn -trout 

 pinkish or often white. This, however, cannot be held as distinctive 

 of species, for some trout captured on the same day at Loch 

 Assynt, in Sutherlandshire, showed all variations in the colour of 

 their flesh, from white to red, and were all equally well tasted. 

 Parnell also observed that " James Stuart Monteith, Esq., of 

 Closeburn, caught a number of small river-trout, and transferred 

 them to a lake (Loch Ettrick), where they grew rapidly ; their 

 flesh, which previously exhibited a white chalky appearance, 

 became in a short time of a deep red, while their external 

 appearance remained the same from the time they were first put 

 in " (op. cit. p. 307). 



