FISHES 



49 



very long and high, with simple anterior and bifurcated posterior rays: 

 I genus. 



Thymallus Cuvier. With the characters of the family: 5 species, all 

 in the cold waters of the northern hemisphere, 2 in the United States. 



T. tricolor Cope (Fig. 24). Michigan grayling. Length 450; 

 head 5; depth 4.6; color purplish gray; sides with small scattered black 

 spots back of head; dorsal fin spotted and with rose colored and dark 

 stripes; rays of dorsal fin 21 or 22; anal 11; scales 93 to 98: northern 

 Michigan; scarce. 



Fig. 24. — Thymallus tricolor {from Jordan isf Evermann). 



T. montanus Milner. ^Montana grayling. Similar to T. tricolor, but 

 with dorsal fins a little smaller and with smaller scales; sides with trans- 

 versely elongated spots: upper Missouri basin, above the Great Falls; 

 locally abundant. 



Family 4. Osmeridae — Smelts. Body elongate, slender, small, 

 covered with usually cycloid scales; head naked; mouth terminal; 

 stomach a blind sac, the cardiac and pyloric ends being close together; 

 pyloric caeca few or wanting; adipose fin present; tail forked: about 

 15 species, mostly marine, some of the species ascending the streams; 

 2 freshwater genera in the United States. 



1. Thaleichthys Girard. Body very slender; scales very small; 

 mouth small; teeth very feeble: i species in the United States. 



T. pacificus (Richardson). Candlefish. Length 300 mm.; head 

 4.75; depth 6; color white, with numerous dark dots above; rays of 

 dorsal fin 11; anal 21; scales 75; lower jaw projecting: Oregon to 

 Alaska; marine; ascending the streams from the Columbia River north- 

 wards in enormous numbers in the spring; flesh very oily and of "delicious 

 flavor; an important food fish; when dried used as candles. 



2. Osmerus L. Body very slender; teeth strong, those on the 

 tongue long and fang-like; scales large; 5 species in the United States 

 along the shores of both oceans, i ascending the streams. 



