166 
MALACOPTEKY GII. 
“ From the following Irish lakes, in addition to Loughs Melvin and Eask, 
already mentioned, I have seen examples of char : — 
“ L. Kindun, County Donegal. A specimen taken by Mr. Wm. Marshall, of 
Belfast, when fly-fishing here, at the end of June, 1837, was kindly submitted 
to my examination. In length it was 8^ inches, and agreed with, the ‘ Northern 
Char.’ In an accompanying note it was stated that ‘ its stomach contained 
numerous small worms.’ 
“ L. Gartan, County Donegal.* * Hence, on July 18, 1838, I was favoured 
with a specimen by John Yandeleur Stewart, Esq., of Rockhill, Letterkenny. 
This gentleman remarked at the same time, that it was taken with the fly about 
five weeks previously, and that there are a great many char in the lake, which is 
seven miles distant from Letterkenny. It is 10 inches in length, and a fine 
example of the ‘ Northern Char ; ’ the spots, which are numerous, are nearly all 
below the lateral line. 
“ L. Dan, County Wicklow.f From this lake several char have been kindly 
sent me by my friend Mr. R. Call well, of Dublin. None are above 7^ inches in 
length ; they present some of the characters both of the Northern and Welsh 
char, but appertain more to the former. In February, 1839, Mr. George Smith, 
of Baggot Street, Dublin, informed me, that in summer, four or five years since, 
he, when using small showy flies (with which they are often captured here), took 
thirteen char in this lake within half an hour ; the water was very rough — they 
were all taken within the space of two yards, though he fished to some little dis- 
tance on every side. In the summer of 1838 this gentleman saw about a dozen 
char lying dead and much swollen on the banks of Lough Dan. Mr. Smith has, 
within the last few years, seen char about 15 inches long caught in Llanberris 
lake, in North Wales. It will be remembered that Pennant mentions this fish 
as once found here, but as entirely destroyed by the mineral streams from the 
copper mines contiguous to the lake. 
“ Loughnabrack, County Longford. In Dr. R. Ball’s collection is a char 
from this locality. 
“ L. Corrib, County Galway. I have been favoured with an example from 
this extensive lake by Mr. W. R. Wilde, who states that char are captured here 
in great quantity (especially about Cong) in draught-nets along with salmon 
throughout the season for taking this fish — from the 1st May to the 12th 
August. It is commonly called here Murneene , and by those who give an Eng- 
lish name, ‘ Freshwater Herring.’ These names are applied to the char in three 
lakes in the County Mayo, and from all of which Mr. Wilde has seen specimens. 
The example from L. Corrib is 13f inches in length, and would be called the 
Northern Char — in a dry state, and after being preserved for some time, it is in 
all respects identical with my specimens from Windermere. 
“ A few very brief remarks may be offered in conclusion. It would appear 
that the differences here noticed in the char are chiefly induced by locality ; but 
this in itself is rather an effect than a cause. The cause is, I conceive, based 
on geological influences, as the ‘ formation ’ in which the lake inhabited by this 
fish is situated, and whether there be a prevalence of rock, gravel, sand, or peat, 
— if fed by springs or a goodly river, and if the latter the formation through 
which it flows, — the depth of water, &c. According to these features, the 
quality of the water and the minute animals constituting the food of the char 
will vary, and the latter not only in quantity produced, but in species. Accord- 
ing to its food the external appearance of this fish is influenced, as well as the 
flavour and colour of its flesh. No proper comparison, again, can in any respect 
be made between the char of different localities, unless the examples be in similar 
condition, and which, as before mentioned, they sometimes are not in adjacent 
ference. This matter is worthy of notice in connexion with the disappearance 
of the char from Lough Neagh. 
* When visiting Lough Derg in this County, in the autumn of 1837, I was 
assured that char are abundant in it. 
f In the lake of Luggela, in this County, the char is likewise taken. 
