FISHES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 33& 



very large and near the orbits. The rostrum exceeds the lower jaw 

 by the whole length of the opening of the mouth. This latter is 

 small, semi-eUiptical, when the jaws are closed ; when opened, it has 

 the form of a crescent whose circumference would be formed by the 

 upper jaw, having below, as a base, the elUptical and rounded outline 

 of the lower jaw. The barbel is about a twelfth of an inch long. 



The face and the opercular apparatus are smooth like the head. 

 The preoperculum is hidden beneath the fleshy cheeks. The oper- 

 culum is large, concave on its anterior margin, rounded on the 

 upper ; the lower is straight and oblique, beneath which is the thin 

 and narrow subopercular lamina. The interoperculum is triangular 

 and more robust. The branchial fissures are small, and extend but 

 little to the lower surface of the head, which gives to the isthmus the 

 form of a triangle. The branchiostegal membrane contains three 

 thin rays, of about equal length, bent and flattened. 



The dorsal fin occupies exactly the middle of the whole length of 

 the fish ; its form is quadrangular, higher than long, and has nearly 

 straight margins. The caudal is obtusely notched, its lobes are 

 rounded. The anal, situated at a small distance backwards from the 

 dorsal, is narrow and elongated ; its outer circumference is rounded. 

 The ventrals are inserted somewhat before the dorsal ; they are 

 small fins of an oblong form, whose extremity reaches to the anus. 

 The pectorals are placed very low, have an elliptical form, and are 

 more elongated than the ventrals. 



Br. 3; D. II, 9; A. II, 8; C. 5.1,9,8,1,4; Y. 8; P. 14. 



The scales are small and subcircular ; the concentric and radi- 

 ating striae are easily seen with a lens. Points of black pigment are 

 distributed on their posterior half, and give to the surface of the 

 body a punctulated appearance. The lateral Une is in the middle ; 

 it is only feebly inflected on the abdomen. 



The ground color is a reddish brown mottled with black, orange 

 and dark green. The black marbling is predominent. A large spot 

 of this color occupies the basis of the caudal, where it radiates on 

 the rays of this fin. The lips, the margin of the branchiostegal 

 membrane, the basis of the pectorals, ventrals and anal are of an 

 intense orange-red, which prolongs itself on the rays. The ground of 

 the fins is light orange. 



