HAMLIN ON THE SALMON OF MAINE. 355 



Ijoward tlie lateral line, above which the color appears of a deep, mottled 

 gray, still deepening into bine as it approaches the dorsal summit. The 

 same pearly hues, blended and intermingled with gray, are observe<l 

 upon the opercula. Spots and markings of a light sienna color appear 

 on the sides ; these spots are circular without beiug ocelI;;te, and appear 

 indistinct and grayish upon the dorsal and upon the commencement of 

 the caudal. All these colors vary according to the seasons and local in. 

 tiuences, beiug brighter at the spawning-period than at other times- 

 Its proportions are quite harmonioiws. The following are the measure- 

 ments of a small specimen : 



Entire length 18 inches. 



Greatest depth - 3^ inches. 



Head length, 2J, with operculum, 4^ inches. 



Pectoral length, 2J 



Veutral length, 2J 



Anal length, 2^, in width, 4:^ inches. 



Caudal length, 3^^, in width, 1^ inches. 



Dorsal length, 2i, in width, 2 inches. 



Br. 12 5 P. 12-13 ; Y. 9 ; A. 11-12 ; D. 13 j 0. 19. 



Csecal appendages, 113; Ver. 65. 



Scales are small and elliptical. They decrease in size as they ap- 

 proach the thoracic arch. There are 53 in a vertical row anterior to the 

 entrals, of which 24 are above the lateral line. 



The lateral line arises from the height of the upper third of the oper- 

 culum, curves slightly downward, and proceeds with a slight iuhectiou 

 to its caudal insertion. The pectorals are not proportionally so long as 

 those of the siscowet, and they arise much nearer the branchiostegals 

 leaving a greater distance between their extremities and the plane of 

 the commencement of the dorsal. The ventrals arise vertically beneath 

 the sixth ray of the dorsal, are orange in eolor, and margined anteriorly 

 with white. Their outer circumference is slightly oval. The anal is not 

 so high as the dorsal by one-quarter, while in the siscoioet it is of equal 

 height ; terminal line obtuse and parallel with the axis of the dorsal. 

 These fins are of an orange hue, and tipped with white or light gray • 

 The dorsal arises in the middle of the back, is of a dark-gray color, and 

 spotted in the form of transverse bands — terminal line obtuse. Caudal 

 long and much furcated, much more so than with the siscowet, nor does 

 age change much the acuteness of its terminal line. 



The branchiostegal rays are twelve in number, and are of a pure 

 white, except the last, which is irregularly spotted with gray. Eye 

 large and circular, with irides of a golden yellow, and pupil angulated 

 toward the snout, which is obtuse. The upper maxillaries are longest, 

 and at their union show in both sexes a singular depression, into which 

 is received the curve of the lower maxillaries. 



The maxillaries, intermaxillaries, and palatines have each a row of 



