THE CHARS. 
255 
But this long- continued state of doubt concerning the differ- 
ences in the species of this sub-family of fishes will appear 
the more remarkable when we find that by the persevering 
and discriminating researches of Dr. A. Gunther, of the British 
Museum, not less than five British species have been defined 
and described, and those for the greater part different from 
their supposed analogies on the continent of Europe. In 
comparison with the opportunities possessed by this learned 
naturalist in reference to these fishes, my own have been 
limited; but this deficiency to a large extent has been com- 
pensated by the kindness of Dr. Gunther himself, to whom I 
stand indebted for private communications on this, as also on 
other kindred subjects; as also for coloured figures in illus- 
tration of his communication to the Zoological Society on the 
subject of the British Chars; and it is from these materials 
I shall have the gratification of supplying much in addition 
to what is generally known of the history and distinctions of 
the species of this family. My thanks are also greatly due to 
the noble Earl of Enniskillen for a supply of Irish examples 
of these fishes, with notes of their distribution as observed 
by himself and his friends. Nor am I in a small degree 
indebted to Robert Erableton, Esq., already mentioned, who 
has supplied examples of much interest, and which will be 
pointed out in the proper place; and with the aid of these 
materials it is hoped that we shall be able to give a more 
satisfactory account of this sub-family than has hitherto come 
under the notice of the public; but still with the acknowledg- 
ment that much remains of the natural history of the Chars 
to reward future research. 
It is thought most convenient, as well to the reader as the 
writer, if we follow in some degree the example of Nilsson, in 
arranging these fishes into a section by themselves under the 
name of 
SALVELINI; 
although we are ready to allow that, regarded as a genus, their 
characters are less satisfactorily distinctive than might be desired ; 
for as regards organization they might properly be classed with 
the fishes of the genus Sahno. This Swedish naturalist remarks 
that, like most of our own writers, after long observation he is 
not satisfied with respect to the specific differences of such of 
