71) TELEOSTEI : ISOSPONDYLI. — XIII. 



Family XXXIII. ARGENTINID^. (The Smklts.) 



TIr' smelts may be looked upon as reduced SalmonidcE, the only 

 important difference being in the form of the alimentary canal. 

 Tlie stomach is a blind sac, the ocsophajijus and the pylorus opening' 

 close together, and the j)yloric cML-ca are very few or wanting, 

 Genera 7 or 8, species about 20, chiefly small fishes of tlic North- 

 ern Seas, some of them descending to considerable depths. All are 

 silvery and none have phosphorescent spots. 



a. Month hirjje; V. before middle of 1). 



h. Si-ales very small, some of them modified in males; teeth feeble ; P. 



lartcc, of 1(5 to 20 ra\s, adii)ose lin-witli loiif; base. . Mai.i.otis, 78. 



bb. Scales moderate, all alike; teeth stroiifjer, those on tongue enlarged ; 



1*. nioderaif, of alxiut 12 rays; adipose fin short. . . Os.mekl's, 79. 



78. MALLOTUS Cuvier. (/laXXtorof, villous). 



180. M. villosus (Miiiler). Capelix. Ice-fi.sh. Dusky, 

 sides grayish. Old males with scales above lateral line and on 

 side of belly, elongate, closely imbricate, forming villous bands. 

 Head 4^ ; depth 6. D. 12. A. 18. Lat. 1. 150. L. 12. Arctic, 

 S. to Maine. 



79. OSMERUS (Artedi) Linnaeus. (6anr]p6s, odorous.) 

 a. Vomer with 2 to 4 fang-like teeth; lat. 1. about 68. 



181. O. mordax (Mitchill). S.melt. Fro.sst-fish. Greenish, 

 sides witli a silvery band; back with dark points; teeth strong, 

 gill rakers shortish, f eye. Head 4; dejjth (!J. D. 10. A. 15. 

 Lat. I. 68. L. 12. Nova Scotia to Va., entering rivers, sometimes 

 land-locked. (Lat., biting ) 



Family XXXIV. SALMONID^.^ (The Salmon.) 



15odv oblong, covered with cycloid scales; liead naked; mouth 

 tonninal or siibinferior, of varying size ; teeth various ; ma.xillary 

 with siippioiuontal bone, forming side of upper jaw ; pscudobran- 

 cliifc present ; no barbels; D. median ; an adipose fin ; C. forked ; 

 V. median; lateral line present; belly not comi»ressed ; vertebra) 

 about 60. Stomach siphonal, with !.''• to 200 pyloric ca'ca. Lggs 

 large ; no oviduct. (Jenera H ; species about 80 ; peculiar to the 

 northern region.s, most of tliem in fresh waters, the larger species 

 ascending rivers to spawn. In beauty, activity, gaminess, (piality 

 as food, and even in size of individuals, different members of this 

 group stand easily with the first among fishes. 



a. Jaws tnothle«« or nearly no; jicalos large; A. rather elongate (10 to 12 

 rays); maxillary short and broad ("oregonus, 80. 



• For a dctaileil account of the fishes of this family see Jordan, Science Sketches. 



