AMERICAN FISHES. 



ABDOMINAL 

 MALACOPTERYGII. SALMONID/E, 



GAIRDNEK'S SALMON. 



THE QUEACHTS. 

 Salmo Gairdnerii; Richardson. 



" The specific name which I have given to this Salmon is intended 

 as a tribute to the merits of a young though able naturalist, from whom 

 science may expect many important acquisitions, and especially in the 

 history of the Zoology of the north-west coast of America, should his 

 engagements with the Hudson's Bay Company permit him to cultivate 

 that hitherto neglected field of observation. 



" ' This species ascends the river in the month of June, in much 

 smaller numbers than the Quinnat, in whose company it is taken. Its 

 average weight is between six and seven pounds. 



"'Color. — Back of head and body bluish gray; sides ash gray. 

 Belly white. The only traces of variegated marking are a few faint 

 spots at the root of the caudal. Form. — Profile of dorsal line nearly 

 straight, tail terminating in a highly semilunar outline. Ventrals 

 correspond to commencement of dorsal and adipose to end of anal. 

 Teeth. — Jaws fully armed with strong hooked teeth, except a small 

 space in centre of upper jaw. Vomer armed with a double row 

 for two-thirds of its anterior portion. Palate bones also armed with 

 strong teeth. Fins.— Br. 11—12; P. 13; V. 11; A. 12.' 



" In this species the gill-cover resembles that of Salmo Salar still 

 more strongly than that of the Quinnat does, the shape of the sub- 

 operculum in particular being precisely the same with that of Salar. 

 The teeth stand in bony sockets like those of the Quinnat, but are 

 scarcely so long. Those of the lower jaw and intermaxillaries are a 

 little smaller than the lingual ones, and somewhat larger than the pala- 

 tine or labial ones. The tongue contains six teeth on each side, the 

 rows not parallel as in the Quinnat, but diverging a little posteriorly. 

 The pharyngeals are armed with small sharp teeth. The numbers of 



