FAMILY SALMONIDiE 



SAIMO. 



237 



1  7 high, and is composed of ten rays ; the adipose slightly falcate, rounded, ' 7 high. Pec- 

 torals two inches long, and arise anterior to the opercular margin. Ventrals broad and pointed, 

 arising under the fourth ray of the dorsal fin, and composed of eight rays. Anal higher than 

 long, its longest ray being 1'8 in length; base of the fin I'l, slightly emarginate. Caudal 

 concave, composed of seventeen complete and with numerous accessory rays ; its diameter 

 across the tip 2 "5. 



Color. Above, dark olive-green, with confluent blotches of a lighter color on each side of 

 the back, resembling those on the common mackerel. Head above, uniform olive-green. 

 Sides bronze-brown, with numerous rounded rich salmon-colored spots, becoming larger 

 toward the tail ; these are intermixed with smaller crimson dots-. The belly of a brilliant 

 reddish orange, separated by a distinct line from the pearl color beneath. Membrane of the 

 gill-rays, and interior of the mouth, with a black pigment. The first rays of all the fins, 

 except the dorsal and caudal, opaque white, edged with black ; the other rays of a brilliant 

 flesh-red ; inside of the pectorals black. Dorsal varied with dark green and opaque or horn 

 color. Ventral with its black margin extending over two or three of the adjacent rays. 

 Caudal broadly margined with bright red. Flesh incarnate red. 



Length, 15 '5; of the head 3' 3. Depth, 3*0. Weight one and a half pounds. 

 Finrays, D. 10.0; P. 14; V. 8; A. 10; C. 17 f. 



This beautiful species, which has probably been confounded with the preceding, I first 

 noticed at Indian lake, Hamilton county ; then at the outlet of Lake Janet, one of the Eck- 

 ford chain, emptying into Lake Raquet ; and subsequently in most of the streams in Hamil- 

 ton, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Essex counties. There is a beautiful variety of this species 

 in Silver lake, Pennsylvania, with head and opercles unusually dark. They sometimes attain 

 the weight of four and even five pounds. Independent of other considerations, as will be 

 apparent from the description, the regularity and brilliancy of their colors seem to render it 

 proper to designate them by a distinct specific name. 



Between this species and the Lake Salmon, next to be described, there is a continued war- 

 fare ; and hence it is never found except at the outlets of lakes, and in streams. It chiefly 

 affects the rapids above waterfalls, and the deep pools below them. It rises to the fly, but 

 will readily take the common earth-worm. One of the best baits I found to be the ventral 

 fins of this fish, which, as it moves rapidly through the water, resembles a gaudy butterfly. 

 In taking this species, the trained sportsman will often find his snoods snapped, his jointed 

 rod broken in pieces, and his reel rendered useless ; while a simple native by his side, with a 

 coarse line five or six feet long, tied to a short stick, will jerk them out as rapidly as his 

 clumsy hook (fabricated at the nearest blacksmith's shop) touches tlie water. 



Various causes have been assigned for the great variety in the color of the flesh of this and 

 other congeneric species. One cause is said to be the difference of food : such as live upon 

 fresh-water shrimps and other small Crustacea, being brightest ; those which feed upon com- 

 mon aquatic insects, being next ; and those living upon aquatic vegetables, being dull and 

 darkest of all. It is very doubtful, however, whether any trout feeds on vegetables, the 



