106 



the Society, from Mr. William Henry, of Bellows Falls, 

 N. H. 



Dr. S. observed that the species is a beautiful one, and differs 

 from the only two species of this genus he had previously 

 seen, viz., E. estor, and E. reticulatus, but agrees perfectly 

 with Richardson's description of E. lucius, in his Fauna Boreali- 

 Annericana, Vol. IV. p. 124. According to Mr. Henry, this 

 species was originally introduced, from Lake Champlain, into 

 ponds connected with Black River, Windsor Co., Vermont, and 

 thence carried into the Connecticut River. He had known, in 

 some seasons, one hundred or more to be taken at Bellows Falls, 

 weighing each from one to fourteen pounds. Dr. S. remarked that, 

 although Richardson had stated that his " specimen, taken in 

 Lake Huron, was submitted to Cuvier's inspection, and had also 

 been carefully compared with the English pike, without any 

 specific differences having been detected," American ichthyolo- 

 gists had been slow in acknowledging the two to be identical, 

 believing the same fluviatile species not to exist on both continents. 

 Dr. Dekay had admitted E. lucms, with a query, into his " Re- 

 port," and he (Dr. S.) had done the same in his " Synopsis." 



Dr. S. hoped to be able soon to have another specimen, when 

 he should exhibit it to the Society and have it figured. 



Dr. S. further remarked that, with all due deference to the 

 authority of distinguished naturalists abroad, he was, each suc- 

 ceeding year, less willing to rely upon their opinions in matters 

 of doubt, touching the fishes of this country, unless good reasons 

 were given for those opinions. To illustrate his remark, he 

 spoke of the common smelt. In the year 1818, Lesueur described 

 this species, as new, in the 1st vol. of the Jour. Ac. Nat. Sc. of 

 Philadelphia, under the name of Osmerus viridescens. Cuvier, in 

 his Regne Animal, made no mention of this species ; and hence 

 Richardson observed, in his Fauna Boreali- Americana, " As 

 Cuvier, though well acquainted with Mr. Lesueur's ichthyological 

 papers, has not noticed this smelt in his Regne Anwial, we may 

 infer that he did not consider its title to rank as a species suffi- 

 ciently established." Dr. S., in his Report on the Fishes of Mas- 

 sachusetts, had, accordingly, considered Artedi's specific name, 

 eperlanus, as having the priority, there probably being but one 

 smelt. To settle this point, he transmitted to Mr. Yarrell, the 



