SAMLET, OR PARR. 
247 
and that its being found in rivers through the year, or at least 
the greater portion of it, is only because there are considerable 
numbers of the fish thus marked, of the progeny of the Salmon, 
which from causes yet unknown, are slower than others of the 
same dej^osit, in passing through their natural changes, even to 
the extent of two or, as it may happen, three years. So fre- 
quently, and, it would appear, unconsciously have these bands 
been dwelt on as a proof of identity of species, and so i^owerful 
has been the operation of Mr. Shaw’s language and experiments 
on the minds of some eminent naturalists, that at last the hands 
themselves, without reference to any other supposed marks of 
distinction, have received the appellation of Parr; and it is on 
this account that in treating of the species now under consider- 
ation, we have judged it best to place this disputed denomination 
in the second place, and only as a synonym; and to distinguish 
the fish we hold to be distinct by its also ancient name of Samlet. 
The question at present therefore is not whether the young of 
the Salmon, and we may add of some others of the same family, 
may not remain in fresh water for more than a year, during 
which they may bear on the sides a series of dusky marks at 
this time, denominated Parr-bands; but whether there be not 
also a distinct species which bears those marks, and which by 
something like arrested development, is never deprived of 
them. 
Mr. Shaw’s perseverance in conducting his experiments, and 
his honesty in stating the doubts he felt as regards some of 
his observations, are deserving of gi-eat praise ; hut his conclusions 
in some particulars appear to be far from satisfactory, and, as 
regards the true nature of a fish he terms the Parr, the 
question appears to be just exactly where he found it. It 
appears that after the confinement of a year, these Belted 
Salmon were permitted to follow their inclination in passing 
into the river; but it is far from being shewn, or indeed 
rendered probable, that these were the same fish that were 
afterwards obtained in the river with enlarged milts, or that 
they were certainly of the same species. The bands themselves 
were no proof of this; and hence it is exceedingly questionable 
whether any of these diminutive examples could have been 
engaged in preparing the ground for the reception of the roe, 
an office in which the male Salmon is always expected to 
