VOL. II.] Proceedings of Societies, 393 



five species are correct, and his names have become the scientific 



specific names. 



There should be no difficuky, he said, in readily distinguishing a 

 trout from a salmon, the former having only nine or ten rays in the 

 anal fin, while the latter has fifteen or sixteen. 



As regards the trout, he said that four species have thus far been 

 found in California. The Dolly Varden trout, Salveliyms mabna, 

 found in the headwaters of the Sacramento and its tributaries, has 

 smaller scales \han the others, and the body is covered with round 



red spots. 



The other three species are black-spotted and resemble each 

 other so closely as not to be distinguishable without some attention. 

 The steelhead, Salmo gairdneri, commonly called the salmon trout, 

 is better deserving that name than any other trout on the coast, as 

 it approaches most nearly in appearance to the salmon trout, Salmo 

 irntta, of Europe. Its distinctive character is the stout but not 

 plump body, the comparatively square-cut tail, and especially the 

 large scales, there being 135 in the lateral line. 



Very closely resembling this is the rainbow trout, Salmo irideus, 

 which differs in the plumper body, the smaller mouth and the more 

 distinctly forked tail. The scales are about as large as in the steel- 

 head, and the average is 135 in the lateral line. The question of 

 the difference between these two species is open to a great deal of 

 debate. The latest judgment is, that the two are distinct species, 

 although closely resembling each other in all technical characters. 



The remaining trout is the red-throated trout, Salmo mykiss, of 

 which two varieties occur, the Lake Tahoe trout, Salmo mykiss^ hen- 

 shawi, and the true Salmo mykiss, which is found coastwise in 

 northern California. These differ from each other mainly in the 

 color. 



December 21, i8gi. President Harkness in the chair. 

 One hundred and seven additions to the library were reported. 

 The Nominating Committee made their report, presenting a ticket 

 to be voted for at the annual election. 



Jar 

 chair, 



Annual meeting. President Harkness in the 



William 



Watson, W 



