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Show 380 ON RACES AND HYBRIDS AMONG SALMONIDAE. [May 20, to ascertain as bearing on the crossing of Salmon and Trout. When we examine the lower animals we are told that should we cross the female Ass with the Horse stallion we obtain a hinny, in which the head is like that of the father, the ears those of the Horse, as is also the neigh, the size following the female. If, on the other hand, we take a Mare, and cross it with an Ass, we obtain a mule, wherein the head is asinine, with long ears, &c, while it brays, and here likewise size may be said to follow the mother. I have been examining some interesting crosses among Pheasants at Col. Smyth's; he has crossed the male Amherst with the female Golden Pheasant, and the head of the young is unmistakably that of the Amherst. He reversed the experiment, the Golden Pheasant being the father, and the head and the generality of the plumage certainly takes after the father. I have seen some other instances which would seem to follow the same course, wherein the male appears to have had the largest share in the production of the appearance of the offspring ; but I have likewise been shown an instance in which the species of the mother appears to have had the greatest proportion in the plumage of the young. I simply draw attention to this question as one which may or may not have any modifying influence on the offspring, aud to ask those who may be in positions to observe any results which ensue, to kindly note them down for future information. The experiment with the young Trout reared from the parents of 1875 or 1876 continues to afford the same results as formerly noticed, young reared from the larger eggs giving the finest offspring. The fish in both ponds have grown considerably during the winter months. Respecting the young Canadian Salmonidae hatched at the Fisheries Exhibition by Mr. Wilmot on and after May 1, 1883, a considerable number are still alive. I went carefully through them April 24, 1884, when they were not a year old. Many were in their parr livery, and merely 2 to 2 | inches long, and from this all intermediate lengths were present up to a batch of 10 fry which were kept in a tank by themselves, and had attained from 5h to 6 inches in length. Two of these last were perfectly silvery smolts, destitute of any finger-marks, while in the other eight faint vertical bands were visible, while none had any red spots. The fins wrere very dark, and there were numerous black spots over the upper half of the body. On May 5 1 found these smolts were becoming very restless, and although in some the lateral bands were visible, they were very faint. The colour of the body from the adipose dorsal (or in some from just posterior to the rayed dorsal) to the caudal fin had become very black, while if anything all the fins appeared to be darker. |