FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35  
36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   >>  
uvangis." "This species," he adds, "is found in Lochmaben in Scotland, and _nowhere else_: it is said to have been carried thither from England in the time of Robert the Bruce." Mr. Stewart describes the fish, but from his description it is evident he has never seen it. The following one is exact:-- "This beautiful fish measures from four to six inches in length, and tapers gradually to the tail. When taken out of the water, it has a bright silvery white appearance, with a slight tendency to a light blue along the back and part of the sides. In size it resembles a small herring or par, but particularly the former, not only in the mouth and external appearance, but also in the anatomical structure. _Upon the top of the head_ there is a very distinct _shape of a heart_, covered with a transparent substance of a brownish colour, resembling a thin lamina of mica slate, _through which the brain is visible_. This peculiar mark proves it to be as yet a distinct and undescribed species. Nothing is ever found visible to the naked eye in the stomach of the Vendace. They are extremely delicate, and are allowed to be the most pleasing to the taste of all fish. The general mode of catching them is with a net, as there is no instance known of their having been caught either with bait or the artificial fly. The pike, with which this lake abounds, is their greatest enemy. It has been frequently stated that no fewer than fifteen distinct species of fish, fit for the table, have been found in the Castle Loch." Dr. Knox, sometime Lecturer upon Anatomy in Edinburgh, states: "That he has not only discovered the food of the Vendace, but actually exhibited it before the Members of the Royal Society, and offers suggestions for the stocking of the various lakes in Britain with this exquisite fish; pointing out first the necessity of locating its natural food, without which it cannot live." Allowing, however, that some neighbouring lake could be covered with some of these invisible and "incredibly minute entomostraceous animals," which the learned lecturer says constitute their food, we should still find a difficulty in transferring the fish; as every attempt to do so, though conducted with the greatest possible care and nicety, _has failed_. In the preceding account, I have followed the Rev. John Gardiner of Lochmaben, who, in 18
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35  
36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   >>  



Top keywords:

species

 

distinct

 

appearance

 

visible

 

covered

 

greatest

 

Lochmaben

 

Vendace

 

Anatomy

 
Edinburgh

offers

 
Society
 
Members
 

exhibited

 
discovered
 

states

 

abounds

 

artificial

 
caught
 

frequently


stated

 

Castle

 

suggestions

 
fifteen
 
Lecturer
 

natural

 

attempt

 

conducted

 

transferring

 

difficulty


Gardiner

 
nicety
 

failed

 

preceding

 

account

 

constitute

 

locating

 

necessity

 
Britain
 

exquisite


pointing
 
Allowing
 

entomostraceous

 

minute

 

animals

 

learned

 

lecturer

 
incredibly
 

invisible

 
neighbouring