DAY ON BRITISH AND IRISH SALMONID^. 



Then comes the Trout. The opening paragraph of this section 

 is ominous of what is to follow. It is this — ' it now becomes 

 desirable to offer some remarks restricted to the marine and fresh- 

 water forms of the British Trout, which have been considered by 

 some ichthyologists and fishermen to be anadromous and non- 

 migratory freshwater species. Before entering upon each in detail it 

 appears desirable to explain why it is that I find myself unable to 

 accept the numerous species that have been described, believing those 

 ichthyologists [Widegren, Malmgren, etc.] more correct who have 

 considered them modifications of only one, which, as Salmo tt'utta^ 

 includes both anadromous and non-migratory freshwater forms.' We 

 are quite aware that Dr. Day worked on these lines when he treated the 

 Salmonoids in his 'British Fishes,' but we had not then the pleasure 

 of making known our hearty approval of this departure, one that, 

 we believe, does much to explain many of the puzzles which the 

 recognition of a large number of distinct species inflicts upon us, 

 and makes. easy the solution of some vexed questions. Dr. Giinther 

 (' Catalogue of Fishes,' vol. vi ; Study of Fishes, p. 644-5) describes 

 eleven species of British Trout, and the fact that this accurate 

 observer has been able to distinguish so many local forms in these 

 islands is evidence of the variability of the species and nothing more. 

 Although Dr. Day states — ' it is, I think, possible to prove that 

 marine salmonoids may take on a freshwater existence ; also that 

 Salmo trutta, S. canidricus, and other anadromous so-called species, 

 can be traced into freshwater forms of trout,' we think, nevertheless, 

 that the Sea-Trout and the Brown, or freshwater Trout may be 

 regarded as now sufficiently distinct for the demands and con- 

 venience of zoological classification and nomenclature, respectively. 

 Recognizing this split, and applying the useful trinomial nomen- 

 clature so appropriate to their respective varieties, our Trout stand 

 as follows : — 



SEA-TROUT. 

 Salmo triitia L., Salmon-Trout. 



Sahjio triitta cambricus Donovan, Sewin ; this being simply a 

 southern race of Salmo triitta. 



To these forms also belong the Salmonoids known as Salmo 

 argentcus C. & V., Salmo brachypoma Giinther, and Salmo erlox Nilss.: 

 also the Bull-Trout, Gray-Trout, Scurf, Speriing, Whitling, Sprod, 

 Peal, Sea-Trout, White-fish, and White-Trout (Ireland), Turff 

 (Devon), Buntlings (Wales), and Blue Cap, all of which are treated 

 of, and their parentage and phase explained. 



Naturalist, 



