404 



V EllTEiniATA. 



feet li>iif:, mill is l.roiijjht to New York market in the autumn, where it is called Autumnal Her- 

 ri,,,/, h is soMK-tinies cuuirht in ('..nnoctirut river, where it is called Weeskk. 



The Spottko Siiadixe, A. saUim,, is six to twelve inches long, and is fuuixl. thonuh not abund- 



antlv, on the New ^'..rk coast. 



THE SCOPELID^. 



TImm- present oonsid.ral.lc resemldance to the salmons, differing, however, in the structure of 

 the upper jaw, of whi.h the biting edge is entirely composed of the intermaxillary bones. The) 

 are sometimes naked and sometimes covered with large brilliant scales. They are principally 

 found in salt water; a few occur in the Mediterranean, but most inhabit the tropical seas. Some, 

 a-s the Sfernopti/jr, present very singular forms. 



SALMON AND TEODT. 



THE SALMONID^. 



The members of this great family furnisb some of the most celebrated fishes, whether regarded 

 as game for the sportraan or food for the epicure. They are generally inhabitants of the fresh 

 waters of the northern parts of the world, a few only, like the salmon, passing a portion of their 

 existence in the sea, and ascending into the rivers in the spawning season. They are exceedingly 

 active and voracious fishes, generally of a slender form and adorned with brilliant colors, or 

 elegantly spotted. They are usually of small or moderate size. 



Genus SALMO: Salmn, includes the Salmon, the hero of the angler, the idol of the cook, 

 the god of the epicure. There is but one true Salmon, S. salar, him of whom Izaak Walton dis- 

 courscth so learnedly, and on whom he bestoweth the title of "King;" and of whom Frank 

 F'orester writes so eloquently. He is an inhabitant of the sea, and is known as well on the western 

 as the eastern shores of the Atlantic. 



The salmon is two to four feet long, and weighs ten to twelve pounds, though it has been taken 

 of eighty and even a hundred pounds. The form is long and oval, the scales moderately thin, 

 oval, and rather easily detached ; the teeth numerous, sharp, and incurved ; branchial rays twelve, 

 color above bluish-black, tinged with gray; beneath silvery white. It is altogether a beautiful 

 fish, elegant in form and model, and brilliant in coloring. 



