1870.] 4:vi [Cope. 



toothed, and reaches the hne of the posterior margin of tlie pupil. Th e 

 pectoral measures half the distance to the base of the ventral. There 

 are five specimens of this fish, which measure about fou^r inches in length, 

 and they are stated in the accompanying notes to be of medium size. The 

 coloi'S, like those of 0. spectrum, are darker than those of 0. mridescens, 

 in spirits. The median line above is dusted vpith black, and the lateral 

 scales, in several specimens, bordered with the same. Fins blackish, es- 

 pecially the base of the caudal. From Cobessicontic Lake, in Kennebec 

 Co., in Southwest Maine. 



According to Commissioner Atkins, this species spawns immediately 

 after the ice disappears, and instead of running into swift brooks, like the 

 varieties of 0. viridescens, hereinafter described, lays its eggs on the bor- 

 ders of meadows. The specimens described were taken in breeding con- 

 dition at the breeding season. 



As I owe the opportunity of describing these interesting Osmeri to 

 my friend Dr. C. C. Abbott, I dedicate the present species to him. 



Osmerus viridescens, Mitchill. 



Osmerus sergeanii, Norris. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1868, 93 ; 

 loc. cit., 1861, March. 



Two localities furnish specimens of land-locked smelt, which I can only 

 distinguish from those of salt water by color. The first from Lake Mes- 

 salonskee, Kennebec Co., have a yellowish color on the sides, and black 

 dorsal line, top of head, chin, and edges of lateral scales. The specimen is 

 14 inches long, said to be of medium size, therefore exceeding the average 

 of the O. viridescehs seen in Philadelphia market, and considerably larger 

 than the 0. ahhotti and 0. spectrum. They are called the Belgrade 

 smelt. 



Commissioner Atkins states that between the 10th and 20tli of April, 

 while the lakes" are still covered with ice, this fish runs up into the brooks 

 and lays its eggs by night, the eggs adhering to grass and stones. The 

 spawning is complete always before the ice breaks up in the lakes. The 

 temperature of the brooks is from 32^ to 4.0° Fahr. 



The second locality is Cochnewagn Pond, Kennebec Co. Specimens of 

 " mediunr size " are smaller than the sea smelt from the mouth of tlie 

 Kennebec, and larger than lliose of 0. ahhottii. They are generally simi- 

 lar to the last variety. These the notes state, breed later by 25 days than 

 the last; that is, 12 or 15 days after the ice disappears, the temperature of 

 the water being 48° to 45°. 



The breeding season of the O. abbottii intervenes between those of tlie 

 above varieties. 



Commissioner Atkins says that the majority of the lakes of Maine con- 

 tain smelt of some kind, and that he frequently finds smelt in the stomachs 

 of tiout from these lakes. 



ANGUILLA, L. 

 Species not identifledj very abundant in all the Atlantic waters of North 

 Carolina (82). 



