HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 149 



4 



Osmerus viridescens, Lesueur. 



The Smelt. 



(Plate XXV. Fig. 4.) 



Sahno eperhnus, Smelt, Mitch., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soe. of N. Y., I. p. 435. 



Osmerus viridescens, Lesueur, Jonrn. Acad. Nat. Sc, I. p. 230. 



Salmo (Osmerus) eperhnus, Rich., Fauna Boreal. Americ, in. p. 183. 



Osma-us eperlanus, Smelt, Akt., Storek's Report, p. 108. 



Osmerus viridescens, American Smelt, Lesueur, Dekat's Report, p. 243, pi. 30, fig. 124. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 449. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 197. 



" " Cuv. et Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss., xxi. p. 388. 



Color. When alive, this species, above the lateral line, is of a yellowish-green color 

 with cupreous reflections, the scales being ornamented with exceedingly minute black 

 dots ; the sides, beneath the lateral line, are of a silvery-white ; the abdomen, of a 

 milky-white ; the upper portion, beneath the lateral line, presents the appearance of a 

 satin band the entire length of the body ; the upper edge of this band is of a beautiful 

 violet tint. Opercles golden. The dorsal and caudal fins are of the color of the back ; 

 the ventrals and anal% are white ; the pectorals are yellowish-white. 



Description. Body elongated, cylindrical. Its greatest depth is just in front of the 

 dorsal fin ; its depth at the base of the caudal fin is less than half the depth of the 

 head across the operculum. The length of the head to the whole length of the fish is 

 as 1 to 5. The head is destitute of scales. The lower jaw is longer than the upper, 

 with several sharp, recurved teeth ; the front upper teeth much larger than the others, 

 and very sharp. A single row of sharp teeth on the palatine bones. Three or more teeth 

 on each side of the tongue ; a tooth at the tip of the tongue much larger than the 

 others. Labials delicately denticulated throughout the whole extent. Gape of the 

 mouth wide. Nostrils large, double ; the posterior the longer. Eyes circular, pupils 

 black, hides silvery. Diameter of the eye equal to three fourths the distance between 

 the eyes. 



The lateral line commences at the superior angle of the operculum, and is continued 

 in a straight course to the tail, being more obvious in front of the dorsal fin. 



The dorsal fin arises opposite the ventrals. The first ray is one third as high as the 

 second ray ; the second ray is one third higher than the length of the fin. The rays 

 are branched at their extremities. The adipose fin, which is quite narrow, is situated 

 over the posterior portion of the anal fin, at a distance greater than the length of the 

 head, back of the first dorsal fin. 



The pectorals are situated just beneath the inferior angle of the operculum. Their 



