76 TELEOSTEI : ISOSPONDYLI, — XIII. 
Famiry XXXI0. ARGENTINIDA. (Tue Smetts.) 
The smelts may be looked upon as reduced Salmonide, the only 
important difference being in the form of the alimentary canal. 
The stomach is a blind sac, the esophagus and the pylorus opening 
close together, and the pyloric ceca are very few or wanting, 
Genera 7 or 8, species about 20, chiefly small fishes of the North- 
ern Seas, some of them descending to considerable depths. All are 
silvery and none have phosphorescent spots. 
a. Mouth large; V. before middle of D. 
&. Scales very small, some of them modified in males; teeth feeble; P. 
large, of 16 to 20 rays, adipose fin with long base. . MAL.otus, 78. 
bb. Scales moderate, all alike; teeth stronger, those on tongue enlarged ; 
P. moderate, of about 12 rays; adipose fin short. . . OsmERus, 79. 
78. MALLOTUS Cuvier. (jsaddwros, villous). 
180. M. villosus (Miiller). Caprenin. Icz-risu. Dusky, 
sides grayish. Old males with scales above lateral line and on 
side of belly, elongate, closely imbricate, forming villous bands. 
Head 44; depth 6. D.12. A.18. Lat. 1.150, L. 12. Arctic, 
S. to Maine. 
79. OSMERUS (Artedi) Linnzus. (écpnpds, odorous.) 
a. Vomer with 2 to 4 fang-like teeth; Jat. 1. about 68. 
181. O. mordax (Mitchill). Smerxt. Frost-risa. Greenish, 
sides with a silvery band; back with dark points; teeth strong, 
gill rakers shortish, 3 eye. Head 4; depth 6}. D. 10. A. 15. 
Lat. 1. 68. L.12. Nova Scotia to Va., entering rivers, sometimes 
land-locked. (Lat., biting.) 
Famiry XXXIV. SALMONIDA#.: (Tue Satmon.) 
Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales; head naked; mouth 
terminal or subinferior, of varying size ; teeth various ; maxillary 
with supplemental bone, forming side of upper jaw ; pseudobran- 
chiz present ; no barbels; D. median ; an adipose fin ; C. forked ; 
V. median; lateral line present; belly not compressed ; vertebrae 
about 60. Stomach siphonal, with 15 to 200 pyloric ceca. Eggs 
large; no oviduct. Genera 8; species about 80; peculiar to the 
northern regions, most of them in fresh waters, the larger species 
ascending rivers to spawn. In beauty, activity, gaminess, quality 
as food, and even in size of individuals, different members of this 
group stand easily with the first among fishes. 
a. Jaws toothless or nearly so; scales large; A. rather elongate (10 to 12 
rays); maxillary.short and broad. . . . . . . . Corrconus, 80. 
1 For a detailed account of the fishes of this family see Jordan, Science Sketches, 
p. 35. 
