450 Storer’s Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. 
D.11. P.140rl6. V.9. A.45. C.19. Length, 10 inches. 
Maine, Massachusetts, Lesurur, Storer. New York, Mrrcuict, Dexay. ‘‘ From 
the waters of Hudson River to the coast of Labrador,’’ Dexay. 
Salmo eperlanus, Smelt, Mrrcum1, Trans. Lit. and Phil Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 435. 
Osmerus viridescens, Lesveur, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc., 1. p. 230. 
Salmo (Osmerus) eperlanus, Ricw., Fauna Boreal. Americ., 111. p. 183. 
Osmerus eperlanus, Smelt, Arr., Srorer’s Report, p. 108. 
Osmerus viridescens, American Smelt, Lesuzur, Dexay’s Report, p. 243, pl. 39, fig. 124. 
As Cuvier, in his ‘‘Régne Animal,” did not acknowledge our fish to be distinct from 
the Osmerus eperlanus, I arranged it as that species in my ‘Report upon the Fishes of 
Massachusetts.”” Dr. Dekay, in his ‘Report on the Fishes of New York,’’ considers it 
as a distinct species, without stating, however, that he had ever seen the European Smelt, 
or giving any reason for doubting the opinion of Cuvier. To determine this matter definite- 
ly, I wrote to Mr. Yarrell upon the subject, who kindly sent me several specimens of the Os- 
merus eperlanus. Upon examination, they differ from our species, which, of course, will 
bear Lesueur’s name of O. viridescens. With specimens of both the foreign and our fish, 
of the same size, before me, the difference was quite perceptible. Mr. Yarrell writes me as 
follows respecting the two species. ‘‘ Our fish is considerably lighter in color, particularly 
on the back and on the dorsal and caudal fins. The double series of transverse lines on the 
sides in our fish are wider apart, and the lozenge-shaped spaces are in every sense larger. 
Our fish is deeper for the same length than yours; the body thicker, but the head, particu- 
larly the parts about the jaws, is narrower. Our fish has the gape opening more freely 
vertically. The eye in our fish is smaller, the preopercle deeper, and its posterior edge 
more truly forming a vertical line.” 
GENUS III. SCOPELUS, Coy. 
Body long, slender ; the principal dorsal fin over the interval between the 
ventral and anal fins ; a second dorsal fin so small as to be scarcely percepti- 
ble. The head short ; the mouth and gill-aperture large ; small teeth on both 
jaws ; palate and tongue smooth. 
1. Scopelus Humboldtii, Cuv. 
Back greenish ; sides, including gill-covers, silvery. A row of circular, brilliant metallic- 
colored spots runs along the belly, from before the pectorals to the anus; just above, paral- 
lel to them, extending to the ventral, a second row, commencing on the os hyoides. Behind 
these, a single row of smaller dots is continued to the base of the tail. An insulated spot be- 
tween the anus and lateral line. Five oblong spots of a similar appearance upon the preo- 
perculum. A slight ridge on the dorsum, back of dorsal fin (adipose ?). Body much com- 
pressed. Lateral line almost imperceptible, nearly straight. Mouth widely cleft. Eyes large. 
