78 SCIENCE SKETCHES. 



somewhat different from that of the others, the red 

 spots being large and the back more or less mot- 

 tled and barred with darker olive. The dorsal and 

 caudal fins are likewise barred or mottled, while in 

 the other species they are generally uniform in 

 color. The brook-trout is found only in streams 

 east of the Mississippi and Saskatchewan. It 

 occurs in all suitable streams of the Alleghany re- 

 gion and the Great Lake system, from the Chatta- 

 hoochee River in northern Georgia northward at 

 least to Labrador and Hudson Bay, the northern lim- 

 its of its range being as yet not well ascertained. It 

 varies greatly in size, according to its surroundings, 

 those found in lakes being larger than those resi- 

 dent in small brooks. Those found farthest south, 

 in the head-waters of the Chattahoochee, Savannah, 

 Catawba, and French Broad, rarely pass the dimen- 

 sions of fingerlings. The largest specimens are 

 recorded from the sea along the Canadian coast. 

 These frequently reach a weight of ten pounds ; 

 and from their marine and migratory habits, they 

 may be regarded as forming a distinct variety {Sal- 

 velimis fontinalis immaculahis) . The largest fresh- 

 water specimens rarely exceed seven pounds in 

 weight. Some unusually large brook-trout have 

 been taken in the Rangeley lakes, the largest known 

 to me having a reputed weight of eleven pounds. 

 The brook-trout is the favorite game-fish of Amer- 

 ican waters, pre-eminent in wariness, in beauty, and 

 in dehcacy of flesh. It inhabits all clear and cold 

 waters within its range, the large lakes and the 

 smallest ponds, the tiniest brooks and the largest 

 rivers ; and when it can do so without soiling its 



