132 SALMONID^. 



in them, during his explorations. The name of Mackinaw 

 Salmon, by which it is commonly known, is, therefore, a mis- 

 nomer, since it is no more peculiar to the Straits of Michili- 

 mackinac than to any other locality between the Falls of Niagara 

 and the Arctic Ocean. The term Namaycush, which Pennant 

 adopted, and Dr. Richardson has retained, both as its English 

 name and its scientific distinction, is no more than its denomi- 

 nation by the Cree Indians, who term it Nummecoos, and I 

 confess I think it in both respects preferable to any other ; for 

 Dr. Mitchirs scientific name Amethystus, which he gave it in 

 consequence of a faint purplish tinge perceptible on the teeth, 

 gums, and roof of the moutli, is founded on a peculiarity so 

 slight — I speak on the authority of Professor Agassiz — as in many 

 specimens to be scarcely distinguishable ; while it has no name 

 in the English language defining it from the Siskawitz, inhabit- 

 ing the same waters, or from the common Lake Trout {Salmo 

 Co7ifinis), of the New York and New England lakes. 



It is a remarkable fact, that at least one-half of our inland or 

 fresh-water fishes have no correct English names, no names at 

 all in fact, but such arbitrary and erroneous terms as were 

 applied to them ignorantly, by the first English settlers in the 

 districts in which they are found, and have been adhered to 

 since for the lack not of better, but of any real names. Thus 

 the peculiar fish of Lake Otsego, though fully ascertained to be, 

 and scientifically distinguished as, one of the family Salmonidae, 

 and defined as Coregonus Otsego, has, to this day, no other 

 appellation in the vernacular than the absurd misnomer of Otsego 

 Bass, to which species it has no relation whatsoever. The same 

 is the case with the fish called " Trout " bv the inhabitants of 



