262 NMW YORK STATK MUSEUM 



not much longer than the eye, about one fourth the length of 

 head. Diameter of the eye contained four and two thirds times 

 in length of head; maxilla not quite reaching to below hind 

 margin of eye; vomerines in two irregular series; gill rakers 

 about 20. Dorsal origin a little nearer tip of snout than to 

 caudal base. The length of the dorsal base is contained seven 

 and one half times in total without caudal, and slightly exceeds 

 longest dorsal ray; last dorsal ray one half as long as the long- 

 est. Ventral origin is under middle of dorsal base; the fin is as 

 long as the longest dorsal ray; the ventral appendage about as 

 long as the eye; when the ventral is extended, the distance of 

 its tip from the vent is one third of length of head. The anal 

 base is a little more than one half as long as the head; the 

 longest anal ray equals the longest dorsal ray; the last ray is 

 not quite so long as the eye. Adipose fin short, its width nearly 

 equal to its length and two thirds of diameter of eye. B. 11; 

 D. 11 divided ravs and 4 rudiments; A. 10 divided ravs and 3 

 rudiments. ' Scales 21-135 to 140-20. 



The upper parts usually greenish blue, sometimes purplish; 

 the sides more or less silvery and profusely spotted with small 

 black spots, which are most numerous above the lateral line; 

 head, dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins also black spotted. Sea- 

 run specimens are uniform silvery without black spots. In the 

 breeding season the broad crimson • lateral band becomes 

 brighter, and the sides of both sexes are iridescent purplish. 

 The jaws of the male in the breeding season are not much dis- 

 torted, but they are very much larger than in the female. 



The rainbow trout is a native of the mountain streams of the 

 Pacific coast and ranges from California to southern Alaska. 

 A small example was taken at Sitka, in 1880, by Admiral L. A. 

 Beardslee, U. S. K, and is now in the collection of the U. S. 

 National Museum. This trout is found chiefly in mountain 

 streams west of the Sierra Nevadas. It rarely descends into 

 the lower stretches of the rivers, but occasionally does so and 

 passes out to sea. The rainbow has been extensively intro- 

 duced into many eastern states, but not with uniform success. 

 In Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri and North Carolina it \\as been 



