FISHES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 



William, from the Pic, and from Lake Huron ; we have compared 

 them with specimens from Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsyl- 

 vania ; we have compared again and again all their different charac- 

 ters, and we have seen that the same variations occur in all these 

 supposed species. No difference in the form and relative position 

 of the fins could be noticed ; the same arrangement and aspect of 

 the scales characterizes them all. The comparison which we have 

 thus been enabled to make of these different varieties confirms their 

 specific identity. No appreciable difference exists ; there are the 

 same crests, the same cavities and sinuosities of the bones of the 

 head, and the same proportions between their different parts. 



POMOTIS VULGARIS, Cuv. et Val. 



PoMOTis VULGARIS Cuv. et Vol. H. N. Poiss. III., 91, PI. 49; — 

 VII., mL — Richards, Fn. Bor. Amer. HI., 24, PI. "IQ. — Storer 

 Rep. 1839, p. 11. — Dekay N. Y. Fauna 1842, p. 31, PI. 51, 

 f. 166. 



I have been able to secure only a few specimens of this species 

 from Lake Huron, about four inches long. By means of comparisons 

 which I have made of specimens from Massachusetts, New York, 

 and Pennsylvania, I have nevertheless been able to ascertain its 

 identity. For more ample details upon this fish I refer to the works 

 quoted above, in which the species is described and figured. I must 

 however remark that I have only mentioned in the synonymy those 

 authors with whose species there remains no doubt in my mind, 

 since I am satisfied that the so-called Pomotis vulgaris of the South- 

 ern States is not the same species. In order to avoid all confusion, 

 I have left out those synonyms which I was not able to verify di- 

 rectly, quoting only authors who have given minute characters and 

 good figures. 



The Pomotis vulgaris has been quoted as found in almost the 

 whole extent of the United States. We are sure that it inhabits 

 the Great Canadian Lakes, and the Northern and Central States 

 of the Union. We do not know its western limit, though it is 

 quoted as found in Ohio. Our specimens are from Lake Huron. 



