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Show 586 MR. F. DAY ON RACES AND [Dec. 2, inches. Eyes from end of snout 0*4 Eyes apart 1*5 Distance from snout to dorsal fin 2*8 Distance from base of pectoral to base of ventral fin. . 1*3 Distance from base of ventral to base of anal fin .... 1*2 Teeth-in a transverse row across the head of the vomer, followed by three more teeth placed in a single series along the anterior half of the body of that bone; this form of dentition being identical with what has been previously described in other specimens, and showing either that deciduous vomerine teeth may exist on the body of the vomer in Char crossed by Trout: or else, that instead of a double row of teeth along the body of the vomer, as seen in Trout, they may be reduced to a few placed in a single row should such fish be crossed with Char. Scales-22 rows pass from the base of the adipose dorsal downwards and forwards to the lateral line. Colours- yellowish shot with purple and reticulated with irregular black bands, spots, and markings along the body, but most spotted on the upper surface of the head and back ; a few dark marks also on the sides of the head. Dorsal fin yellow, with black spots and irregular bands, the upper portion of its anterior edge being rather light with a dark base. Adipose dorsal with a black base and two black spots one above the other. Pectoral black-tipped. Anal with the three first rays white, posterior to which the fin is stained with dark grey, especially in its outer portion. Caudal dark-edged, and with a few indistinct bars at its base. On opening the specimen, it was found to be a male with the milt very fully developed. November 12, 1884.-Pond no. 3 at Howietoun was examined, and the females of the Zebra race were not quite ready for breeding, while they appeared to be fewer in number than the males, some of which were ripe. A female Lochleven Trout furnished 1350 eggs, which were fertilized bv the milt of one of the Zebras 84 inches long, and placed in box 92 a. Should these eggs prove fertile the young will be three parts Lochleven to one part American Char. August 28, 1882.-A hybrid 7\ inches long was taken from pond no. 4 at Howietoun from among about 90, all being in good condition. These fish are the progeny of an American Char milted from a Loch-Rannoch Char x November 15, 1882, and formerly termed Salmo struanensis, a dark variety of the common Char. These hybrids are now distinguished as the Struan breed. The following is a description of the specimen :- B.xi. D. 13(T 8 0). P. 13. V. 8. A. f. C. 19. L. 1. 158. Caec. pyl. 37. inches. Total length 7*3 Length of head 1*5 1 The three Loch-Rannoch Char died during this summer. It would appear that at Howietoun the American Char at five years old has ceased to be commercially paying as a breeder, while some even at four years old show signs of senility. |