36 SALMONID^. 



understanding of a few simple facts, which it is necessaiy to 

 observe and record, will enable any sportsman to describe 

 any supposed new variety or species, with such accuracy as 

 to render his description of the highest value for scientific 

 purposes; to make it, in short, such that a naturalist shall 

 be justified in pronouncing positively thereupon as to the 

 genus, species, sex, and perhaps age, of the variety described 

 or discovered. 



The first point to be observed is the nature of the fins, as 

 hard-rayed and spiny^ as in the Perch, the Bass, and others 

 which it is needless here to enumerate ; or soft-rayed and 

 flexible, as in the Pike, the Salmon, the Carp, and many more. 

 The second, is the jjosition of the fins ; and to elucidate this 

 point to the unscientific reader, I here subjoin an outline with 

 references, to render this method of examination comprehen- 

 sible and easy of acquisition to anybody. 



The subject of this outline is the young of the Lake Trout 

 {Salmo Trutta, Lin.), of the Eui'opean continent. This figure, 

 which is taken by permission from Mr. Agassiz's fine work, 

 Histoire Naturelle des Poissons d'Eau douce de U Europe Cen- 

 trale, represents a young Salmon Trout, taken in the Lake of 

 Neufchatel, at the end of summer, less than a year old. The 

 lower figure gives the outline of the same fish, as seen from 

 above. Other cuts of the same simple description will show 

 the formation of the head, the gill-covers, and the dental 

 system, from which after the fins, and the number of vertebrae, 

 the specific distinctions are most easily ascertained. 



It will be seen clearly, at the slightest inspection of the 

 beautiful little fish which has been selected as the subject of 



