116 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



ABDOMINAL 

 MALACOPTERYGII. 



8ALMOlIID.fi 



THE LAKE TROUT. 



Salmo Confinis; DeKay. 



Not having been enabled this spring to obtain a specimen of this 

 fish, which I was exceedingly anxious to do, for the purpose of com- 

 paring it with the Siskawitz and Namaycush, I take the following 

 account from the New York Fauna of Dr. DeKay, whose description 

 of the fish is very complete. 



It is a very closely cognate species with the two last described, but 

 I believe it to be clearly distinct, which in the first instance I was 

 disposed to doubt. 



" Characteristics. — Blackish, with numerous gray spots. Body 

 robust ; comparatively short in proportion to its depth ; caudal fin 

 with a sinuous margin. Length, two to four feet. 



" Description. — Body stout, thicker and shorter than the common 

 Salmon. Length of the head to the total length, as one to four and 

 and a half nearly. Dorsal outline curved. Scales, small, orbicular, 

 and minutely striated. Th& lateral line distinctly marked by a series 

 of tubular plates, arising at the upper angle of the opercular opening, 

 slightly concave until it passes over the base of the pectoral fin, when 



