FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



Michigan [Argyrosomus hoyiy the specific title 

 being after Dr. Hoy, an able naturalist of Wis- 

 consin) is very closely allied anatomically to the 

 whitefish. It has a compressed body, an ele- 

 vated back, and a snout somewhat truncated and 

 similar in form to the muzzle of the common 

 v^^hitefish. The coloration, however, is much 

 brighter than that of the whitefish named, a light 

 iridescent blue appearing above, and on the sides 

 and lower part of the body, a rich bright silvery 

 glow is seen, not merely white, as in the common 

 whitefish ; the cheeks are also silvery in coloration. 

 The male fish is more highly colored than the 

 female, the iridescent blue on the back being more 

 radiant. 



The other four forms of the ciscoes all live in 

 the Great Lakes and in waters inclosed in their 

 basin. They are : 



The cisco, lake herring, Michigan herring, 

 popularly so called, is ichthyologically known as 

 Argyrosomus artedi, the specific name after that of 

 Petrus Artedi, the recognized father of systematic 

 ichthyology. This fish is very abundant in its 

 indigenous habitats, and very often visits shallow 

 waters. It has a high fin on its back, the rays of 

 which shorten abruptly posteriorly ; the coloration 

 of the body is bluish black, sometimes greenish 



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