140 KEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the above sources, and are now in the Smithsonian collection. Dr. 

 Cooper obtained, in the autumn of 18GI), a specimen of trout from the 

 Bitter-Root River, Washington Territory, (west slope of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains,) differing- in no important character from two specimens of >S'. lewisl 

 obtained by him at tlie Falls of the Missouri, in Nebraska. This gives 

 the species a wide range — probably extending as far westward as the 

 Great Falls on the Clarke, Spokane, and other rivers of the western 

 slope. Another trout, got by Dr. Cooper from the Spokane River, above 

 the falls, partakes partly of the characters of this species, and partly of 

 those of the 8. indea.j var. stelJatus. It may be a hybrid between the two. 

 It has no characters sufficiently distinct from either species to warrant 

 the recognition of its title to a new name. Toward the Lewis trout the 

 writer feels more than an ordinary interest, having probably the honor 

 of catching the first of the species ever taken with the artificial fly* 

 This was at a point a mile or so below the Great Falls of the Missouri, 

 in September, 1853, after a horseback ride of thirty miles on purpose 

 to procure specimens. Tlieir existence had been indicated by Lewis and 

 Clarke, who spoke of having caught ft/rtc/j-speckled trout at the falls. I 

 found them a lively, fine fish, jumping readily at the fly, and taking bait 

 freely. Three-quarters of a pound appeared to be the average weight, 

 but, doubtless, individuals of much larger size are found. Two of my 

 specimens, taken in 1853, were sent to the Smithsonian, and were ren- 

 dered typical of tlie species, as from them Dr. Girard based his origi- 

 nal description. They still exist in the collection, numbered 520 in the 

 museum catalogue of fishes. 



30. SALMO BREVICAUDA, Suckley. 



SHORT-TAILED TROUT. 



Syn. — S<ihno hrevicauday Suckley, Notices of Certain New Species of North 

 Americau Salmoiiidie. New Yortc, June, 1861. 



Sp. Cii. — Body long and slender; its dorsal outline from a point oppo- 

 site the posterior margin of the operculum being nearly straight. Scales 

 large, quite thin, and glistening Avith metallic lustre; very loosely ad- 

 herent. They encroach upon the tail for nearly a third of its length, 

 thus giving it a short appearance. The peduncle of the tail is wide for 

 the depth of the body, and the caudal itself is somewhat short and 

 narrow. Head long, but not deep. Dorsal and caudal fins freely spotted 

 with oval black spots. Body marked with small stellate and irregular 

 dark spots, their number and size varying greatly in diiferent individ- 

 uals. There are usually two rows of teeth on the vomer. The head is 

 contained nearly five times in the total length, which rarely exceeds 

 eighteen or twenty inches. The tail appears shorter than it really is 

 by reason of the great distance upon it that the scales extend. 



Diagnosis. — Upon a comparison of adults this species maybe readily 

 distinguished from ^S*. iridect by its long, slender head and body, its appa- 



