ZOOLOGY. 
347 
the rough, foaming, swift waters of rapids and cascades, but seemingly prefers streams having 
a gentle current, and is even not averse to the still waters of quiet lagoons^ providing that they 
be cold, deep, and clear. Like the Atlantic species they are fond, in summer-time, of lying 
in shady situations during the heat of the day. They are found in many of the small lakes, on 
the Nisqually plains, near Fort Steilacoom, from which they can be taken in great numbers with 
the ' ' fly, ' ' affording much sport to the scientific angler. The largest caught by me, in that 
vicinity, were taken in February from the tidal waters of a small mill-stream. They weighed 
a little more than two pounds each, and were the largest of the species that I have ever seen. 
I doubt very much whether they are taken over three pounds in weight, from half to three- 
quarters of a pound being more common. The fish just mentioned, as taken by me, Avere 
caught with a large, gaudy, unnatural salmon-fly. In the same stream, but from the brackish 
water near its mouth, I caught, in January, 1854, many trout. Some were taken with the 
' ' revolving spoon, '' ' and others with the ' ' fly, ' ' or with meat. At that season they were 
generally soft and "flabby," and seemed to be in an anaemic condition consequent upon 
spawning. Other specimens, even at a consideraly later period, had not yet spawned, and, 
when caught, seemed literally overflowing with milt and mature ova, which were plentifully 
discharged on the slightest pressure, or even when jarred while being carried strung, in the 
ordinary manner, on a stick. A fish, in bad condition, taken at that time, had the following 
colors: Back bright olive; belly light yellowish white; numerous black spots on head, sides, 
and fins. Patches, under the chin, of very pale yellowish vermillion, not bright red, as in the 
same fish when in good order. Other fish taken while in the same condition showed much more 
of the unhealthy red blotches, &c., so frequently alluded to in this report. In common with 
the other trout this is called the kwuss-putl by the Nisquallies. It is a fine active trout, aff'ording 
much sport to the angler, and is a hardy fish, capable of adapting itself to very varied circum- 
stances. For the table its flesh, however, is by no means equal to that of its Atlantic repre- 
sentative. With the exception of its lacking red spots along the sides it is as handsome as the 
latter fish. Like the eastern trout they are capricious in their appetites, and at times will reject 
food which on other occasions they seize with avidity. The ova, when mature, are of a pale 
yellowish red, and are nearly double the size of those of the brook-trout of the middle States^ 
The skin of a male fish of this species was preserved by me at Fort Dalles, Oregon. It was 
caught on the 18th of April, 1855, and seemed in good condition, although its flesh was quite 
pale. The spots on the body were black, each being paler in the centre. They were irregular 
and numerous, and were numerous on the upper and caudal fins, head, and opercula. Color of 
back bright silvery olive, lighter on the sides, and silvery white on the belly. Pectoral, ventral, 
and anal fins reddish orange. The patches of vermilion, on the anterior concealed borders of 
the branchia, were bright, and, like those of the trout caught in Clark's Fork, and some of 
those found in the affluents of Puget Sound, form a striking mark quickly recognized by the 
most superficial observer. The colors, as just given, may be considered as normal to the healthy 
adults of moderate size, and would admit of insertion under the head of specific characters. 
At Fort Dalles this species is common in all the permanent streams in spring, and is taken 
in company with the other species of black-speckled trout during the summer months. The 
other kind, S. masoni, has smaller spots, which are more scattered and less numerous; and, so 
far as my observation extends, it lacks the red streaks under the jaw. The two species also 
vary in the comparative size of the scales, those of the S. masoni being larger than the present. 
