THE CHARRS — SALVELINUS. 
9 
Smitt says that in Scandinavia and the rest of Europe to the south, the charrs strictly 
belong to the mountain lakes, and hardly ever take up their abode in running water. In the 
Arctic regions south to northern Helgoland in Norway, they are marine, and like the salmon 
ascend rivers to spawn. In Greenland and the coast of Arctic North America, and as far south 
at least as the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Oregon and in Kamtschatka, they have similar habits. 
The charrs of North America comprise two species peculiar to that country and several 
nominal species closely related to, if not identical with, the charrs of Europe. In 1780, Fabricius 
(Fauna Groenlandica) mentions or describes fom species, iS. alpinm, S. carpio, S. stagnalis, and 
S. rivalis. These have been reduced to one, some considering them S. alpinus, others as 
S. stagnalis. Most American VTiters refer to the Greenland charr as S. stagnalis. Richardson 
described several species from farther west, the proper status of which in classification is uncer- 
tain. Later, Gunther described two small Arctic charrs, one of which was reputed to be the 
most northern locality for a salmonid known. The Peary party, however, collected some in 
the outlet of Lake Hazen, still further north. 
Smitt recognized a S. stagnalis form but it is a question where one species of Arctic charr 
begins and where it leaves off in its geographical range, and whether or not they all should not be 
considered forms of S. alpinus. H. R. Storer described a sea-run charr of Labrador as Salmo 
immaculatus. By American ichthyologists this was subsequently relegated to the synonymy 
of Salvelinus fontinalis. Lately, however, it has been showm to be the S. stagnalis form. For 
convenience in distinguishing the S. alpinus-Vike charrs and the other two mentioned as peculiar 
to America, the former will henceforth be referred to as the saibling group, a modification of the 
German name for one of the European charrs, or alpinoids. No species of this group were 
described from any locality in America south of the Arctic regions prior to Storer. None after- 
ward was discovered until Girard brought to the attention of scientists the Blueback of Rangeley 
Lakes, Maine. Since then three species have been described from New England and Canadian 
waters. 
Southward these saibling forms exhibit the peculiarity mentioned by Smitt as possessed 
by the European fish, to the effect that a singular feature in its geographical range was its 
occurrence in certain lakes, and absence from others situated near them and apparently of the 
same nature. 
The habits of these American saibling are essentially like those of their European con- 
gener. They are what may be termed deep-water fishes, at least in the southern part of their 
geographical range; and occur in shallow water, as a rule, only when the water is cool, princi- 
pally in the fall breeding time and in early spring. Occasionally in summer one may be seen 
at the surface in early evening or on a cool, cloudy day, but it apparently does not remain there 
long. Such appearances at the surface seem to be on account of insects upon which the fish 
occasionally feeds. 
