120 EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. 



bad become somewbat altered iu appearance by long residence in salt 

 Avater. But upon tbe examination of Mr. Drexler's specimens from Hud- 

 son's Bay, it became apparent tbat a distinct, but nearly allied species 

 exists tlius far nortbward, re[)laGiug tbe above, and of wbi<*b tbe speci- 

 mens obtained by tbe lirst- mentioned gentlemen were tbe young. 

 Wbile in tbe salt water tbey bite freely at any common bait. 



21. SALMO KOSSII, Kicbardson. 



ROSS' ARCTIC SALMON. 



Syn. — Salmo rossii, Eicir. Nat. Hist., App. Eoss's Voy., p. Ivi ; — Ibid. F. B. A., vol. 

 3, p. 163 ; PI. 80, PL 85, f. 2 ;— DeKay, Zool. N. Y. Fishes, p. 242. 

 Salmo 2)€nshhK'nsis, Gill, Cat. Fislies E. Coast N. A., p. 52. 



Sp. Ch. [Condensed from Sir Jobn Eicbardson's description,] Form 

 more slender, dorsal outline less arcbed tban in S. salar. Head also 

 ratber larger, being one-fifth of tbe length to end of scales on tbe caudal. 

 Snout very obtuse; under jaw remarkably long, its tip having a small, 

 incurved knob. [JKo notch between the iutermaxillaries for the recep- 

 tion of this knob. J- Conspicuous pores on the sides of tbe face bones 

 posteriorly. Eye equidistant between snout and nape. Intermaxillaries 

 toothed along their whole margins. About thirty teeth on the tongue. 



Ray formula.— Bv. 12-13; D. 13-0; P. 14; V. \o: A. 11. 



Scales very small — particularly on tbe back ; nowhere tiled, each scale 

 being surrounded by a distinct space of smooth skin. 



Colors. — Back, top of head, dorsal and caudal fins have a hue inter- 

 n.iediate between oil-green and hair-brown. Sides, pearl-gray, with a 

 blush of lilac and silvery luster. Near tbe lateral line scattered dots or 

 spots of carmine. Belly varying from faded-orange to tile-red, and 

 arterial-red. 



Hab. — Arctic Ocean, near the mouths of the rivers of Boothia Felix. 



There does not seem to be sufficient reason for doing away with the 

 name first applied to this species by Sir Jno. Eicbardson. Besides, tbe 

 comparison of one or two dried skins, of nearly similar species ought to 

 be insufficient to condemn a name once established. 



Tb is salmon presents peculiarities of great imi)()rtance, which no red- 

 spotted front which we have seen — or in fact, any other, in a collection 

 of 30 species of American Salmonidcv. Prominent among these may 

 be mentioned tbe great number of teeth upon the tongue. Tbe diagnosis 

 between this species and others consists in tbe red-spots, obtuse snout, 

 long under jaw, conspicuous pores on the face bones, the great number 

 of teeth on tbe tongue, and the distinct space of smooth skin around each 

 scale. All prominent and unmistakable characters. 



