ALBERT R. MAJNiN LIBRARY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITYDATE DUE QL 155.J8C2ri899niVerSi,yLibrary A vertebrate animals of 3 1924 001 585 284 31924001585284A MANUAL OF THE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES INCLUDING THE DISTRICT NORTH AND EAST OP THE OZARK MOUNTAINS, SOUTH OF THE LAURENTIAN HII.LS, NORTH OF THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF VIRGINIA, AND EAST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER INCLUSIVE OF MARINE SPECIES BY DAVID STARR JORDAN PRESIDENT OF LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY NINTH EDITION NEWLY REVISED AND ENLARGED CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG AND COMPANY I9°46}L I 5 5 ^ © 2. is^ Copyright By Jansen, McClurg, and Co. a. d. 1876, 1878 Copyright By A. C. McClurg and Co. A. D. 1888, 1899 p-s'PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. This book is designed to give to students and collectors a ready means of identifying tlie Vertebrate fauna of the region which it covers, and of recognizing the characters on which the families, genera, and species of these ani- mals are founded. To these ends, I have made use of a system of analyti- cal keys by which differential characters are brought into contrast. The usefulness of such keys has long been recognized by botanists, and in ornithology the recent works of Coues and Ridgway have proved their value to the student. That the book might not reach a size too large for field or class use, I have made all descriptions very concise, with as few repetitions as possible. I have confined the generic characters to the analytical keys, using as a rule only such characters as are distinctive as well as descrip- tive. The need of condensation has caused the omission of synonymy, and of references to authorities except in special cases. In the first four editions of this work (1876, 1878,1880, 1884), large use was made of artificial characters in the analyses of the genera. The use of such characters is often a help to quick identification of species, but with the disadvantage of hiding from the student the real char- acters on which classification is based. In the present edition, these artificial keys have been chiefly set aside,u PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. and I have tried, with more or less of success, to set be- fore the student the essential characters of each group. The present edition is wholly re-written and it is printed from new stereotype plates. The order of ar- rangement is reversed, the lowest forms being placed first. The region covered by the Manual has been extended in t(ie present edition so as to include, in addition, Mis- souri, Iowa, Minnesota, the Provinces of Canada, and the sea-coast from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. The deep- sea fishes of this region are, however, omitted, as well as the tropical and semi-tropical forms which occasionally drift northward in the Gulf Stream, without gaining any permanent place in the northern fauna. Several species of birds which have been once or twice taken in our limits, but which are merely accidental wanderers from the West or South or from Europe, have also been omitted. I have wished to include only those animals which really form a part of the fauna of the region in question. I have made free use of every available source of infor- mation, and I believe that the present state of our knowl- edge in this field is fairly represented. The arrangement of the fishes is essentially that of Jordan and Gilbert’s “ Synopsis of the Fishes of North America ” (1883), and, almost exactly that of Jordan’s “ Catalogue of the Fishes of North America ” (1885). The manuscript of the fresh water fishes, in the present edition, has been carefully re- vised by Prof. Charles H. Gilbert. The arrangement of the Batrachians and Reptiles is essentially that set forth in the various papers of Prof. Edward D. Cope. I have made use of Boulenger’s Cata- logues of the Reptiles in the British Museum, and of the “ Catalogue of North American Batrachia and Reptilia ” by N. S. Davis and Frank L. Rice. The manuscripts of the Reptiles and Batrachians have been revised by Prof. O. P. Hay.PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. Ill In the nomenclature and classification of the Birds, I have followed exactly the “Check List of North Ameri- can Birds,” published by the American Ornithologists’ Union. In the preparation of analytical keys to the genera of Birds, I have made large use of Bidgway’s “Manual of North American Birds,” and of Coues’ “Key to North American Birds.” In the arrangement of the Mammals, I have been guided primarily by Professor Baird’s “History of North American Mammals.” In the Bodentia, I have made use of the elaborate monographs of Dr. Elliott Coues and Dr. J. A. Allen; and in the other groups reviewed by Dr. Coues, I have adopted most of his conclusions. In the Cetaceans, I have used chiefly the papers of Mr. Frederick W. True and Prof. E. D. Cope, and both these naturalists have kindly furnished me with unpublished catalogues of the species recognized by them. In the preparation of the present edition I am also personally indebted for aid in various ways to Prof. Ed- ward D. Cope, Mr. Leonhard Stejneger, Prof. Charles H. Gilbert, Prof. Oliver P. Hay, Mr. Frederick W. True, Mr. Bobert Bidgway, Mr. Amos W. Butler, Dr. J. Sterling Kingsley, Mr. Charles H. Bollman, Dr. Stephen A. Forbes, Mr. Barton W. Evermann, and others. I may again refer to the obligations acknowledged in the earlier edition, — especially to my indebtedness to Dr. Elliott Coues, Dr. Theodore Gill, Dr. G. Brown Goode, Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, Prof. Herbert E. Copeland, and Mr. Edward W. Nelson. DAVID S. JORDAN. Bloomington, Indiana, June, 1888.PREFATORY NOTE TO EIGHTH EDITION. The present edition is printed from the same plates as the fifth edition, published in 1890. The decade which closes the century has seen greater activity in the study of species of animals and their relation to their environment than has been known in any other corresponding period in the world’s history. Such study has given much greater precision to our knowledge of the characters and the dis- tribution of species, with the minor results of the recogni- tion of synonyms, and the correction of nomenclature by its establishment on the solid basis of priority. Most of the recent changes in the scientific names of animals are due to the use of the earliest name given to the species, instead of some later one applied through error of one sort or another. To bring the present work up to date, it is necessary to change these antedated names, but there is no correspond- ing change, in most cases, in the definitions of the genera and species themselves. It has therefore seemed unneces- sary to ask the publishers to incur the great expense of resetting the type for a new edition. I have indicated in an appendix the principal additions and alterations which seem necessary in the group of Fishes. By the applica- tion of these corrections the nomenclature of this group will be made to correspond to that of Jordan & Ever- mann’s Fishes of North and Middle America (4 parts: part 1, published 1897; parts 2 and 3, 1898; part 4 in 1899), to which elaborately illustrated work students are referred for further details.VI PREFATORY NOTE TO EIGHTH EDITION. The corrections in the Reptiles and Batrachians have been made on the plates, from data kindly furnished by Dr. Leonard Stejneger, and Dr. Oliver R. Hay of the Smithsonian Institution, and by Dr. John Van Denburgh of the California Academy of Sciences. A few additional species are inserted in an appendix, the descriptions having been furnished by Dr. Stejneger. “ The Birds ” is revised to follow the generally accepted nomenclature of the American Ornithologists’ Union. “ The Mammals ” has been fully revised and is printed from new plates. The nomenclature has been carefully corrected in accordance with the views of Mr. T. S. Palmer of the Department of Agriculture. “The Cetaceans” has been revised by Mr. Frederick W. True of the United States National Museum. Two of my own students, Mr. William Weightman Price and Mr. Walter Kenrick Fisher, have assisted me in the revision of the account of the Mammals and the compila- tion of the additional descriptions needed to bring the work fairly up to date. DAVID STARR JORDAN. Leland Stanford Jr. University, Palo Alto, California. March, 1899.THE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES. VERTEBRATA (The Vertebrates.) The Vertebrates are, in popular language, “ animals with a back-bone.” They are distinguished from all other animals, says Professor Huxley, '* by the circumstance that a transverse and vertical section of the body exhibits two cavities, completely sep- arated from one another by a partition. The dorsal cavity contains the cerebro-spinal nervous system; the ventral, the alimentary canal, the heart, and, usually, a double chain of ganglia, which passes under the name of the 1 sympathetic.’ A vertebrated ani- mal may be devoid of articulated limbs, and it never possesses more than two pairs. These are always provided with an internal skeleton, to which the muscles moving the limbs are attached.” Modern researches have shown that, besides the ordinary “ back- boned animals,” certain other creatures, formerly considered as Mollusks or Worms, are really degenerate forms of Vertebrates, and must be considered as members, or at least as associates, of this group. The resemblance to the other Vertebrates on the part of the forms in question is seen in their early or larval develop- ment, and scarcely at all in the adult condition. “ Many of the species start in life with the promise of reaching a point high in the scale, but after a while they turn around, and, as one might say, pursue a downward course, which results in an adult which dis- plays but few resemblances to the other vertebrates.” (Kingsley.) These are the Tunicates or Ascidians, forming the Class or Prov- ince of “ Urochordata.” The essential character of the Vertebrata, in the broad sense of the term, is now understood to be this: “ The6 VERTEBRATA. possession of a cellular cord, — the ‘ notochord/ — which runs un- derneath the central nervous system, and which in the higher forms is surrounded by the permanent vertebral column and skull, and is largely obliterated by the development of these structures. So the term Chord at a is frequently employed as synonymous with Ver- tebrata in its wide sense.” (if. if. Wright.) Without further discussion of the Vertebrata or “Chor- data ” as a whole, we may proceed to the account of the several subordinate groups or classes. The existing forms may first be divided into about six primary groups, which have been called “ provinces ” by Professor Huxley. These are (I) the Urochor- data, including the class Tunicata ; (II) the Hemichordata or En- teropneusta ; (III) the Cephalochordata, corresponding to the class Leptocardii: (IV) the Ichthyopsida, including the classes of Cyclo- stomi, Pisces, and Batracliia; (V) the Sauropsida, including the Reptilia and Aves; and finally (VI) the Mammalia, correspond- ing to the single class of the same name. The relations of these provinces and classes are shown in the following analysis taken, in part, from Dr. Gill’s “ Arrangement of the Families of Fishes.” Only the more obvious characters are here mentioned. Others may be found in the more elaborate works on Comparative Anatomy. Analysis of the Classes of Chordata. a. Anterior end of the central nervous axis not dilated into a brain, and not surrounded by a protective capsule or skull. b. Notochord confined to the tail and usually present only in the tadpole- like larval stage of the animal (Ueochordata) : adult animal not fish-like nor worm-like, its body invested with a tough envelope or “tunic.”............................................Tuhicata, A. bb. Notochord not confined to the tail, hut extending forward to the anterior end of the body; sides of body with numerous gill slits which are persistent through life. d. Notochord developed in anterior end of body only (Hemichor- data) : adult animal worm-like, without trace of fins; a long proboscis before the mouth.................Enteropneusta, B. dd. Notochord perfect, continued forward to a point before the mouth (Cephalochordata) : body elongate, lanceolate, somewhat fish- like in form, not worm-like nor enveloped in a “tunic”; middle line of body with rudimentary fins; no proboscis; the mouth slit- like, fringed with cirri...............Leptocardii, C. a a. Anterior end of the nervous axis dilated into a “brain,” which is con- tained within a protective capsule, the “ skull ”; notochord not continued forwards beyond the pituitary body; heart developed and divided into at least two parts, an auricle and a ventricle. (Cra- niota.) e. Respiration during part or the whole of life performed by means of gills; blood cold. (Ichthyopsida.)VERTEBRATA. 7 f Skull imperfectly developed and without jaws ; paired fins un- developed, with no shoulder girdle or pelvic elements; a single median nostril; gills purse-shaped; skin naked ; skeleton car- tilaginous........................................Cyclostomi, D. ff. Skull well developed, and with jaws; shoulder girdle and pelvic elements developed; nostrils not median. g. Limbs developed as rayed fins (rarely abortive) ; rayed fins nor- mally present on the median line of the body ; respiration throughout life by means of gills; lungs usually not developed. Pisces, E. gg. Limbs not developed as rayed fins, but, if present, having the same skeletal elements as in the higher vertebrates; respiration in the adult chiefly accomplished by means of lungs, the gills usually not persistent; skin usually naked..........Batkachia, F. ee. Respiration performed throughout life by means of lungs, the gill slits disappearing before birth. h. Mammary glands not present; diaphragm incomplete; a single occipital condyle; oviparous (or sometimes ovoviviparous), the young hatched from a rather large egg. (Sauropsida.) i. Exoskeleton developed as scales or bony plates; blood cold; heart with three (rarely four) cavities. . . Reptilia, G. ii. Exoskeleton developed as feathers; blood warm; heart with four cavities................................Aves, H. hh. Mammary glands present; the }roung developed within the body from a minute egg (except in the Monotremata), and nourished for a time after birth by milk secreted in the mammary glands; exoskeleton developed as hair; two occipital condyles; dia- phragm complete; heart with four cavities; blood warm. Mammalia, I. Of these classes, the Tunicata (A) and the Enteropneusta (B) are excluded from the plan of the present work. The Tunicata are all marine forms, of small size, the larger species being familiarly known as “ Sea Squirts,1” “ Sea Peaches,” and “ Sea Pears ” ; but the most of them are without common names. A considerable number of species, representing several families, are found on our Atlantic coast. The Enteropneusta consist of the single genus Balanoglossus, a worm-like creature, of which two or three species are found on our coasts. They reach a length of six to twelve inches. They have been considered as worms having possible affinities with the Echinoderms, but the recent studies of Mr. William Bateson seem to show conclusively that their place is among the Chordata. Leaving these groups aside, we take up8 LEPTOCARDII: CIRROSTOMI. — I. Class C. — LEPTOCARDII. (The Lancelets.) Skeleton membrano-eartilaginous; no brain ; no skull; tbe noto- chord persistent and extending to front of body; no heart, its place being taken by pulsating sinuses; blood colorless; respiratory cav- ity confluent with cavity of abdomen ; gill slits in great number; the water expelled from an abdominal pore in front of vent; no jaws; the mouth inferior, slit-like, with cirri on each side. (Gr. Af Tiros', thin ; KapSia, heart.) Order I. CIRROSTOMI. The single order of this class contains but a single family. (Lat., cirrus, hair ; Gr. ardpa, mouth.) Family I. BRANCHIOSTOMATID^E. (The Lancelets.) Body elongate-lanceolate, compressed, naked, colorless, the fins represented by a low fold which extends along the back around the tail, past tbe vent, to the abdominal pore; eye rudimentary; liver a blind sac of the simple intestine. One genus, with 5 or 6 species; small, translucent creatures found imbedded in the sand on warm coasts. These animals are highly interesting to the anatomist as showing the vertebrate type in its simplest condition. I. BRANCHIOSTOMA Costa. (Amphioxus Yarrell.) (Ppayxia, gills ; crropa, mouth.) 1. B. caribaeum Sundevall. Lancelet. Muscular bands (myocommas) 55 to 60 (37 —14 —f- 9 = 60) ; tail short; extremi- ties attenuate. (Otherwise as in the European B. lanceolatum, which has 56 to 60 myocommas; 35 —|— 12 —|- 13 = 60). N. Y. to S. A. buried in soft sand, locally abundant. (Name from Carib- bean Sea.)MYXINIDiE. — H. 9 Class D. CYCLOSTOMI. (The Myzonts.) Skeleton cartilaginous; skull imperfect, not separate from ver- tebral column; no jaws ; no limbs; no ribs; no shoulder girdle nor pelvic elements ; gills in the form of fixed sacs, 6 or more on each side; nostril single, median ; mouth subinferior, nearly circular, adapted for sucking; heart without arterial bulb; alimentary canal straight, simple; vertical fins with feeble rays. Naked, eel- shaped animals found in all cool waters. (Gr. kvkXos, circle; orA/ia, mouth.) Orders of Cyclostomi. a. Nostril tube-like with cartilaginous rings, penetrating the palate; gill openings remote from the head; no eyes...Hypebotreta, 2. aa. Nostril a blind sac not entering the palate; gill openings close behind the head; eyes well developed in the adult. . . . Hyperoartia, 2. Order II. HYPEBOTRETA. Characters as given above. Only one family, (vrrcpaa, palate ; Tpi/rdr, perforate.) Family II. MYXINIDH3. (The Hag-fishes.) Snout with eight barbels ; no lips ; a median tooth on the palate and two rows on each side of the tongue, which is a powerful organ with a strong fibrous tendon moving in a muscular sheath; each side of abdomen with a series of mucous sacs ; no eyes; intestine without spiral valve; skin thin and loose; eggs large, with a horny case and threads for adhesion ; genera 2 ; species 4 or 5. Lamprey- like animals, burrowing into the flesh of fishes, on which they feed; marine. it. Gill openings one on each side, this leading by six ducts to six branchial sacs.........................................Myxine, 2. 2. MYXINE Linnfeus. (Gr. pv^a, slime.) 2. M. glutinosa L. Hag-fish, Borer. Bluish; head 3J to 4 in length. N. Atl., S. to Cape Cod. (Hu.)10 CYCLOSTOMI: UYPEROARTIA. — III. Order IH. HYPEROARTIA. Characters given above. One family only, (vrrepaa, palate; apnos, complete.) Family III. PETROMYZONTID^E. (The Lampreys.) Body eel-shaped, naked, compressed behind ; mouth subcircular, armed with horny teeth, which rest on papillae; gill openings 7, arranged in a row along the side of the “ chest ”; lips present, fringed; nostril on top of head, just in front of eyes; dorsal fin more or less notched; intestine with a spiral valve; eggs small. The lampreys undergo a metamorphosis, the larva of all species being toothless and having the eyes rudimentary. The name Ammoccetes was formerly applied to the larval forms; originally, however, to that of A. branchialis. Genera 3 or 4, species about 15, chiefly of the fresh waters of temperate regions. They attach themselves to fishes, and feed by scraping off the flesh with their rasp-like teeth. u. Second dorsal joined to the caudal. b. Supraroral lamina (“ maxillary tooth ”) expanded laterally, forming a crescent-shaped plate, with a cusp at each end, and sometimes a median cusp; anterior lingual teeth serrate.Ammoccetes, 3. bb. Supraoral lamina contracted, of two or three teeth close together; discal teeth numerous, in concentric series; buccal disk large (in adult, very small in larva)....................Petromyzon, 4. 3. AMMOCCETES Dumeril. (Sppos, sand; koItt), bed.) a. Supraoral lamina with a very small median cusp or none; edge of anterior lingual tooth small, crescent-shaped, dentate, the median denticle en- larged; buccal disk small, with few teeth. (Ammoccetes.) 3. A. branchialis (L.). Mud Lamprey. Brook Lamprey. Dorsal continuous, deeply notched, both parts high; about 3 bicuspid teeth on each side of buccal disk; the other teeth sim- ple ; infraoral plate with 5 to 9 blunt subequal cusps; head with gills 4|; myocommas 67, between gills and vent; an anal papilla present in spring. Color bluish black. L. 8. Cayuga L. (Meek) to Minn, and Ky., ascending brooks in spring. (Eu.) (P. niger, Raf., not of Lacepede.) (Lat., having gills.) 4. PETROMYZON (Artedi) Linnaeus. ([rrerpa, stone; ), to suck.) a. Anterior lingual tooth divided in two by a median groove; dorsal fin con- tinuous, with a broad notch. (Ichthyovnyzon Girard.) 4. P. castaneus (Girard). Supraoral lamina (maxillary tootli) tricuspid; some lateral teeth bicuspid ; infraoral lamina (mandib-PETKOMYZONTIDjE. — III. 11 ulary tooth) with 7 to 12 cusps. Color yellowish. L. 10. Miss. Valley, Minn, to Kans. and La. (lchlh. hirudo Girard.) (Lat., chestnut-colored.) 5. P. concolor (Kirtland). Supraoral lamina bicuspid; teeth on disk all simple, and placed in about 4 concentric series ; infra- oral lamina with 7 cusps ; head ; with gills 4-J ; 51 muscular im- pressions between gills and vent. Color bluish silvery, sometimes mottled ; a small bluish spot above each gill opening, — this found even in the larva. L. 12. L. Erie to Mo. and N., a common para- site on the Sturgeon and other large fishes. (P. argenteus Kirtland, not of Bloch.) (Lat., uniformly colored.) act. Anterior lingual tooth with a deep median groove, and extending in an incurved point; dorsal fin divided. (Petromyzon.) 6. P. marinus L. Great Sea Lamprey. “ Lamper Eel.” Supraoral lamina bicuspid; infraoral cusps 7 to 9 ; first row of lateral teeth on side of mouth bicuspid ; the others simple ; myo- commas, 64 between gills and vent; males in spring usually with an elevated fleshy ridge before the dorsal. Color dark brown, usually mottled with blackish. L. 3 feet. N. Atlantic, S. to Va., ascending rivers to spawn, and permanently land-locked (var. uni- color, Dekay) in the lakes of W. and N. N. Y. The larva is blind, toothless, with a contracted mouth, in which the lower lip forms a lobe distinct from the upper. The eyes appear before the mouth is enlarged. (Eu.) In the spring the Lamprey ascends small brooks for the purpose of de- positing its spawn. They are then often found clinging to stones and clods of earth. Later in the season they disappear, and are seldom seen except when attached to some unlucky fish. They are rarely seen descending the stream, and “ it is thought by fishermen that they never return, but waste away and die, clinging to rocks and stumps of trees for an indefinite period; a tragic feature in the scenery of the river bottoms worthy to be remembered with Shakespeare’s description of the sea floor.” (Thore.au.)12 PISCES. Class E. — PISCES. (The Fishes.) A “ fish ” in the popular sense is a member of any one of the three classes of aquatic or fish-like vertebrates, the groups here designated as Leptocardii, Marsipobranckii, and Pisces. But the Lancelets and the Lampreys differ so widely from the other groups that we must exclude them from consideration as fishes. Many writers go still further and remove from the Pisces, the Sharks, Chimceras, and Dipnoans, but for our present purposes all these may be referred to the same class as the true fishes, or Teleosts. The Pisces or “ Fishes ” may then be defined as cold-blooded ver- tebrates adapted for life in the water, breathing by means of gills which are not purse-shaped, but attached to bony or cartilaginous gill arches; having the skull well developed and with a lower jaw; with the limb3 present and developed as fins, or rarely wanting through atrophy; with shoulder girdle present, furcula-shaped, curved forward and with the sides connected below ; with pelvic bones present; having the exoskeleton developed as scales or bony plates or horny appendages, sometimes obsolete, and with the me- dian line of body with one or more fins composed of cartilaginous rays connected by membrane. The existing representatives of the * class Pisces may be conveniently divided into four subclasses: Selachii or Elasmobranchii, Holocephali, Teleostomi, and Dipnoi. The last group (Ceratodus, Lepidosiren) has well-developed lungs and the paired fins flipper-like. It forms a connecting link be- tween the Ganoidei and the Balrachia. As there are no North American species of Dipnoi, the group needs no further men- tion in this work. Subclasses of Pisces. a. Gills not free, being attached to the skin by the outer margin. Ova few and large, impregnated and sometimes developed internally: embryo with deciduous external gills; membrane bones of head undeveloped, except sometimes a rudimentary opercle; skeleton cartilaginous; skull without sutures; tail heterocercal; ventral fins abdominal; male with large intromittent organs or claspers attached to ventral fins; skin naked or covered with minute rough scales, sometimes with spines; no air-bladder; arterial bulb with three series of valves; intestine with a Bpiral valve; optic nerves united by a chiasma; cerebral hemispheres united. b. Gill openings slit-like, 5 to 7 in number; jaws distinct from the skull, joined to it by suspensory bones; no membrane bones; teeth distinct. {Sharks and Skates.).............................Selachii, page 14.PISCES. 13 bb. Gill opening single, leading to four gill clefts; jaws coalescent with the skull; a rudimentary opercle; teeth coalescent forming bony plates. (Chimaeras.)............................Holocephali, page 24. aa. Gills free, attached at base only to the gill arches; gill opening single on each side; eggs comparatively small and numerous; no claspers; mem- brane bones present on head; cerebral hemispheres not united. (True Fishes.) . . ♦..............................Teleostomi, page 2514 SELACHII: SQUALI. — IV. Subclass SELACHII. (The Selachians.) This group, sufficiently defined above, includes two orders, the Sharks and the Rays, — marine fishes of large size, abundant in most seas. (Gr. vpa, hammer.) a. Teeth in both jaws oblique, each with a notch on-the outside near the base; no spiracles. b. Head truly hammer-shaped; a long groove extending forward from nostrils. (Sphyrna.) 9. S. zygaena (L.). Hammer-headed Shark. Width of “hammer ” twice its length. Gray. L. 15 to 20 feet. All warm seas, N. to Cape Cod. (Eu.) (An old name from fuyo'r, a cross- beam.) bb. Head kidney-shaped, the frontal groove obsolete. (Reniceps, Gill.) 10. S. tiburo (L.). Bonnet-Head Shark. Width of “ ham- mer ” not nearly twice its length. Ashy gray. L. 3 to 5 feet. Warm seas, N. to Va. (Eu.) (Tiburo, an Italian name of some shark.) Family VII. GALBORHINID^E. (The Typical Sharks.) Sharks with two dorsals and an anal fin ; no spines; tail mod- erate, not lunate, bent upwards, the fin notched below near the tip ; basal lobe short; no caudal keel; last gill opening above base of pectoral; eye with nictitating membrane; head normally formed. Genera 15, species about 60, found in all seas. a. Teeth blunt, paved, without cusps or cutting edges; spiracles present; no pit at root of tail; labial folds about mouth. . . . Galeus, 8. aa. Teeth more or less compressed, with sharp cutting edges. b. Spiracles present; teeth large; serrated. c. Boot of tail with a pit above; caudal fin with two notches. Galeocerdo, 9. bb. Spiracles none; teeth sharp; a pit at root of tail. d. Teeth all serrate in the adult.............Carcharhinus, 10. dd. Teeth all entire, all except the median ones oblique; their points turned away from the middle so that the inner margins are nearly horizontal, and form a cutting edge. . Scoliodon, 11. (Rafinesque) Leach. (Mustelus Cuvier.) (ya\eos, shark; yaXerj, weasel.) a. Embryo not attached to uterus by a placenta; teeth very blunt. {Galeus.) 11. 'S: canis (Mitchill). Dog Shark. Hound Shark. Boca Dulce. First dorsal higher than long, its middle midway between pectorals and ventrals; snout shortish. Pale gray. L. 3 feet. Smallest of our sharks. N. Atl.; common N. (Eu.) 9. GALEOCERDO Muller & Iienle. (yakeos, shark ; KepSa, fox). 12. G. maculatus (Ranzani). Tiger Shark. Brown, with numerous large dark spots. L. 10 feet. Warm seas ; rarely N. to N. Y. (Lat., spotted.)ALOPIIDAI. — VIII. 17 10. CARCHARHINUS Blainville. (Carcharias Cuvier.) (icdp^apor, rough ; plvip shark.) (The largest genus of sharks, represented in most warm seas. It is often divided into several genera, but intergradations make it difficult to maintain these divisions. In young specimens the serration of the teeth is not evident.) u. First dorsal far behind pectoral, nearer root of ventral than that of pec- toral. (Carcharhinus.) 13. C. glaucus (L.). Great Blue Shark. Snout very long; color grayish blue. A large shark, rare on our coast. (Eu.) (Lat., grayish blue.) . aa. FirBt dorsal not far behind pectoral. b. Upper teeth oblique; deeply notched on outer margin. (Platypodon Gill.) 14. C. obscurus (Le Sueur). Pectorals large; second dorsal evidently smaller than anal; first dorsal large ; head pointed. L. 10 feet. N. Atl. Frequently on our coast. bb. Upper teeth sub-erect, triangular, scarcely notched at outer margin. (Eulamia Gill.) 15. C. caudatus (Dekay). Snout moderate, its length from mouth forward not less than width of mouth; pectoral fin not very long. Atlantic coast: a little known species of uncertain synon- ymy. (Lat., long-tailed.) 11. SCOLIODON Muller & Henle. (v, tooth.) 16. S. terrse-novae (Richardson). Sharp-Nosed Shark. Body slender; snout depressed; mouth with short labial grooves on both jaws; second dorsal smaller than anal; gray, tail dusky- edged. West Indies, N. to Cape Cod, common S. (erroneously ascribed to Newfoundland). (Lat. terra, land; nova, new. New- foundland.) Family YIII. ALOPIID^E. (The Thresher Sharks.) Body rather slender; snout short; teeth equal, flat, triangular, entire; gill openings moderate, the last above P.; no nictitating membrane ; spiracles obsolete; first dorsal large, second dorsal and anal very small; tail about as long as rest of body ; no caudal keel; pectorals falcate, very large. One species, a large shark, found in most warm seas. 12. ALOPIAS Rafinesque. (dXd>7nj|, a fox.) 17. A. vulpes (Gmelin). Thresher. Swingle-Tail. Fox Shark. Color gray. L. about 20 feet. Open sea; occasionally on our coast. (Eu.) 218 SELACHII: SQUALI. — IV. Family IX. CARCHARIID.®. (The Sand Sharks.) Body elongate, the snout sharp; mouth wide, the teeth large, long, narrow, entire, very sharp, most of the teeth with one or two small cusps at base; gill openings all in front of pectorals ; dorsals small, similar to the anal; tail as in Galeorhinidoe; no nictitating membrane; spiracles minute. One genus and 3 species; rather small sharks, of the Atlantic. 13. CARCHARIAS Rafinesque. (Odontaspis Agassiz.) (mpxapos, jagged.) a. First and fourth teeth of the upper jaw, and first tooth of the lower without basal cusps. (Eugomphodus Gill.) 18. C. littoralis (Mitchill). Sand Shark. Pectoral short. Color gray. L. G feet. Cape Cod to S. C., rather common N. A voracious little shark. (Lat., of the shore.) Family X. LAMNID^E. (The Porbeagles.) Body robust, contracted to a rather slender tail, which has a keel on each side ; caudal fin lunate, the lower lobe nearly as large as the upper, and not very different in form; teeth large; gill openings wide, all in front of pectorals; first dorsal and pectorals large; second dorsal and anal very small; a pit at root of caudal, spiracles obsolete. Large, voracious sharks of the warm seas. Genera 3, species about 6. u. Teeth slender, sharp, with entire edges; tail very slender. b. Teeth very slender, flexuous, without basal cusps . . . Isurus, 14. bb. Teeth broader, most of them with a small cusp on each side at base. Lamna, 15. ao. Teeth broad, compressed, triangular, distinctly serrate; tail rather stout. C'archarodon, 16. 14. ISURUS Rafinesque. (icror, equal; ovpa, tail.) a. First dorsal entirely behind pectorals, nearly midway between base of P. and V. (Isuropsis, Gill.) 19. I. dekayi (Gill). Mackerel Shark. Color bluish. L. 15 feet. W. I., rarely N. (For James E. Dekay, author of the Fauna of New York.) 15. LAMNA Cuvier. (\apva, a kind of shark.) 20. L. cornubica (Gmelin). Porbeagle. Mackerel Shark. First dorsal close behind pectorals; snout conical, sharp ; back elevated ; third tooth on each side in upper jaw small. L. 8 feet. Warm seas, frequently N. to Cape Cod. (Eu.) (Lat., pertaining to Cornwall.)SQUATINIDIE. — XII. 19 16. CARCHARODON Andrew Smith. (Kap\apos, jagged; odavj tooth.) 21. C. carcharias (L.). Man-eater Shark. Great White Shark. First dorsal somewhat behind pectorals. Color leaden- gray, P. edged with black. L. 25 feet. Most voracious of all sharks, and next in size to Cetorhinus, weighing nearly a ton. Warm seas, occasional off our coasts. Linnseus says, “ Jonam prophetam ut vete- res Herculem, in hujus trinoctem ventriculo tridui spateo, bsesisse verosimile est.” , The fossil teeth of a far larger extinct species, Carcharodon megalodon, are often found in tertiary beds along our South Atlantic coast. (Eu.) {Kapxapias, old name of large sharks.) Family XI. CETORHINIDvE. (The Basking Sharks.) Largest of all fishes ; immense sharks with the gill openings ex- tremely wide, nearly meeting above and below; mouth moderate ; teeth very small, numerous, conical, simple; no nictitating mem- brane ; spiracles very small; first dorsal and pectorals large; sec- ond and anal small; caudal lunate, the upper lobe the larger; tail keeled on the side. One species, a huge, sluggish creature, found in Northern seas. 17. CETORHINUS Blainville. (idj-ros-, whale; plvtp a shark.) 22. C. maximus (Gunner). Basking Shark. Head small, snout blunt. Gray. L. 35 feet; depth nearly 6 feet. Open sea, S. to Va. {Eu.) Family XII. SQUATINID^E. (The Angel-fishes.) Ray-like sharks, with the body depressed, the pectoral fins very large, expanded in the plane of the body, the anterior margin bear- ing some resemblance to the bend of the wing in birds; ventrals very large ; dorsal fins two, small, subequal, behind ventrals ; cau- dal small; no anal; gill openings wide, subinferior, partly hidden hy base of pectoral; spiracles wide, crescent-shaped, behind eyes; mouth and nostrils anterior ; teeth small, conical, pointed, distant. A single species, in most seas. The singularly formed pectoral fins give an absurd resemblance to the conventional pictures of angels. 18. SQUATINA Dumeril. (Rhina Gunther.) (Latin name, from squatus, skate.) 23. S. squatina (L.). Angel-fish. Monk-fish. Skin rough, with small, stiff prickles; ashy gray above, usually much mottled. L. 3 or 4 feet. Warm seas, rarely N. {Eu.) Order V. RAJL3E. (The Rays.) The Rays, as a whole, differ from the sharks in having the gill openings underneath the flat disk formed by the body and the20 SELACHII: RALE. — V. expanded pectoral fins. The tail is comparatively slender, and its fins are small. Spiracles present. The Rajidce produce large eggs, enclosed in leathery cases; most of the other Raice are ovovi- viparous, bringing forth their young alive. Families of Raise. a. Tail comparatively thick, with two dorsal fins; no serrated caudal spine nor cephalic fins. 6. Snout much produced, flat, armed with strong teeth on each side, set at right angles to its axis; body somewhat shark-like, the disk grad- ually passing into the tail.....................PRlSTlDimfi, 13. 46. Snout not saw-like; disk ending abruptly at base of tail. c. Electric organs wanting; skin not perfectly smooth. . Rahim:, 11. cc. Electric organs present; a structure of honeycomb-like tubes between pectoral fins and head; skin perfectly smooth. . Tokpedinid.*, 14. aa. Tail slender, with but one dorsal fin or none, and usually armed with a serrated spine. d. Pectoral fins uninterrupted, confluent about the snout; teeth small. Dasyatid.e, 15. dd. Pectoral fins divided, leaving detached appendages (“ cephalic fins ”) on the snout. e. Teeth very large, flat, tessellated.......Aktoratid.v;, 16, ee. Teeth very small, flat or tubercular; size enormous, largest of the rays. Mantid.w, 17. Family XIII. PRISTIDIDA3. (The Saw-fishes.) Rays with elongate body, stout, thick tail, and a long saw-like snout, below which is the inferior mouth with small blunt teeth. Dorsals and caudal well developed. One genus, with 5 or 6 species, in warm seas. 19. PRISTIS Latham, (npia-rrji, one who saws ; the ancient name.) 24. P. pectinatus Latham. Saw-fish. Saw with 25 to 28 pairs of spines. L. 10 feet. West Indies; occasional N. (Lat., comb-toothed.) Family XIY. RAJIDCE. (The Skates.) Rays with the disk broad, rhombic, more or less rough; the males usually with about two rows of strong spines on each pec- toral ; tail rather stout, with a fold of skin on each side, and two dorsal fins above; caudal fin small or obsolete; no serrated spine; no electric organs. Egg in a large leathery case, four-angled, and having two tubular horns at each end. Genera 4, species 40, mostly of the Northern seas. a. Caudal fin rudimentary; pectorals not confluent, leaving a translucent area at the snout; ventrals deeply notched...............Raja, 20.TORPEDINIDAS. — XV. 21 20. RAJA (Artedi) Linnaeus. (Raia or Raja, the Latin name.) ». Middle line of back and tail behind shoulders, unarmed in adult, with a row of spines in young; outline of disk before spiracles obtuse, without acute angle at tip of snout. b. Rows of teeth about 25. R. erinacea Mitchill. Common Skate. Tobacco-Box. Spines largest on front of pectorals ; smaller ones on head, back, and shoulder girdle. Light brown, with round dark spots. L. 1£ feet. Smallest and commonest of our skates, from Ya. northward. (Lat., hedge-hog.) bb. Rows of teeth about |^t. 26. R. ocellata Mitchill. Big Skate. Similar to preceding, but much larger, and with additional rows of spines along the back and on sides of tail. Light brown, with dark spots ; usually a large white ocellus with a dark centre on P. behind. L. 3 feet. Mass. N. act,. Middle line of back and tail with a row of spines at all ages; outline of disk before spiracles forming a more or less marked angle at tip of snout. c. Angle at tip of snout short, obtuse; teeth body and tail with strong spines with broad stellate bases. 27. R. radiata Donovan. A median dorsal row of large spines or bucklers ; others about head. L. 1^ to 2 feet. N. Atl.; rather rare, S. to Cape Cod. (Eu.) cc. Angle at tip of snout acute, moderately long; teeth ^0; no coarse spines or bucklers. 28. R. eglanteria Lacepede. Prickles small and sharp ; a large spine on each shoulder. Brown, with darker bars and blotches. L. 2 feet. Cape Cod southward ; not common. (Eglantine, brier- rose.) ecc. Angle at tip of snout much produced, blunt; teeth |^. 29. R. laevis Mitchill. Barn-door Skate. Spines of body very few and small, on head and back ; a row of larger ones on median line of tail; female rougher, as is usual among rays; snout very long, somewhat spatulate. Color brownish, with paler spots mostly ringed with darker. L. 4 feet. Ya. N.; not rare. (Lat. smooth.) Family XV. TORPEDINIDAE. (The Electric Rays.) Trunk broad and smooth, the tail short and thick, with rayed caudal and usually two rayed dorsals, the first over or behind ven- trals ; a large electric organ made up of hexagonal tubes, between head and pectorals. Genera 6, species 15, found in most warm seas; noted for their power of giving electric shocks. a. Dorsal fins two; ventrals separate; spiracle placed nearly an eye’s diameter behind eye...........................................Torpedo, 21.22 SELACHII: RALE.—V. 21. TORPEDO Dumdril. 30. T. occidentalis Storcr. Torpedo. Cramp-fish. Numb- fish. Black, with obscure darker blotches; spiracles with entire edges. L. 3 to 5 feet. Cape Cod S.; not common. Family XVI. DASYATID^. (The Sting-Rays.) Disk broad, the pectorals confluent anteriorly, forming tip of snout; tail, usually whip-like, sometimes short and stout, with or without fins, but never with two dorsals. Tail usually armed with a sharp, retrorsely serrate spine above, near the base (this often duplicated and sometimes wanting): ventral fins entire. Skin smooth or variously rough, the adult roughest. Mouth small, with small teeth. Sexes similar. Genera 10, species 50, in most warm seas. The large spine or “ sting ” on the tail in most species may inflict a dangerous wound. a. Tail slender, whip-like, without caudal fin, longer than the disk; “ sting ” on tail strong..............................Dasyatis, 22. aa. Tail very slender and short, shorter than the very broad disk: sting minute or wanting...........................Pteroplatea, 23. 22. DASYATIS Rafinesque. (Trygon Adanson.) (SacnJr, shaggy or rough; fiaris, skate.) a. Tail with a fold on its lower margin only, the upper edge rounded. 31. D. centrums (Mitchill). Common Sting-Ray. Clam- Cracker. Stingaree. Snout not prominent; disk a little wider than long; tail usually not quite twice length of disk. Adult with some stellate tubercles on back and tail. Color olive-brown. L. 12 feet. Cape Cod S., common. («'rrpov, spine; ovpa, tail.) aa. Tail with a fold of skin on its upper as well as lower margin. 32. D. say (Le Sueur). Southern Sting-Ray. Whip- paree. Snout not prominent; disk a little wider than long ; tail nearly twice length of disk. Body and tail without large spines. N. Y., S. (To Thomas Say, a distinguished zoologist.) 23. PTEROPLATEA, Muller & Henle. 33. P. maclura (Le Sueur). Butterfly Ray. Disk nearly twice as broad as long, three times as long as tail; sting on tail usually obsolete. Olive-brown, finely marbled and speckled; tail with four dark blotches : front edge of disk with pale half-circular spots. Va. S. (To William Maclure.) Family XVII. AETOBATIDiE. (The Eagle Rays.) Pectoral fins interrupted, reappearing on tip of snout as one or two detached appendages or cephalic fins; skull somewhat elevated, so that eyes and spiracles are lateral; teeth large, flat, hexangular,MANTID/E. — XVm. 23 the middle series largest. Otherwise essentially as in Dasyatidce. Genera 3, species 20, in the warm seas. a. Snout entire. b. Teeth very broad, in one series...............Stoasodon, 24. bb. Teeth in several series......................Aetobatis, 25. aa. Snout emarginate; teeth in several series........Rhinoftera, 26. 24. STOASODON Cantor. (Aetobatis Miiller & Henle.) (oToa, arcade; 68ovs, tooth.) 34. S. narinari (Euphrasen). Bishop Rat. Disk twice as broad as long. Tail very long, three or four times disk. Brown with many round yellowish spots. Warm seas, N. to Ya. (Nari- nari, the Brazilian name.) 25. AETOBATIS Blainville (1816). (Myliobatis Dume'ril, 1817.) (of Toy, eagle; j9any, ray.) 35. A. freminvillii (Le Sueur). Eagle Rat. Skin smooth ; color reddish brown. Cape Cod S. Scarce. (For Christian Pau- lin de Freminville, author of some papers on Plectognaths.) 26. RHINOPTERA Kuhl. 36. R. bonasua (Mitchill). Cow-nosed Rat. Cephalic fin emarginate, and placed below level of pectorals, so that the snout appears four-lobed when viewed from the front. Skin nearly smooth. Cape Cod S. “ lie enters the bay and ranges very exten- sively the flats where the soft clam lives. These shell-fish he is supposed to devour, for a shoal of cow-noses root up the salt- water flats as completely as a drove of hogs would do.” ('Mitchill.) (R. quadriloba Le Sueur.) (Lat., a buffalo.) Familt XVHI. MANTIDiE. (The Sea Devils.) Rays of immense size, similar to the Aetobatidce, but with the cephalic fins forming long ear-like appendages, and with the teeth very small. Skin rough. Genera 2, species 7 ; among the largest of all fishes, found in warm seas. u. Teeth in lower jaw only; mouth terminal.......Manta, 27. 27. MANTA Bancroft. {Manta, blanket, “ a name used at the pearl fisheries of Panama, for an enormous fish much dreaded by the divers, whom it is said to devour, after enveloping them in its vast wings.”) 37. M. birostris (Walbaum). Sea Devil. Manta. Disk not quite twice as broad as long; tail as long as disk. Brown; disk 12 feet long; its breadth about 20. Tropical seas, N. to Delaware Bay. (Lat. bis, two; rostrum, snout.)24 HOLOCEPHALI. Subclass HOLOCEPHALI. This group, defined on page 13, is equivalent to the Order VI. HOLOCEPHAIX Skeleton cartilaginous; gill cavity with four clefts within, but externally with a single opening, which is covered by a fold of skin within which is a rudimentary opercle. No spiracles. Jaws with- out separate teeth, but armed with bony plates. Notochord persist- ent, the vertebrse consisting of rings around a notochordal sheath. No air-bladder ; intestine with a spiral valve; skin smooth, with a highly developed mucous system. Dorsal fin with a strong spine. One family. (oXor, solid ; Kee/xiXij, head.) Family XIX. CHIM^IRID^E. Forehead of males with a movable cartilaginous hook, turned forward and armed with prickles at tip. Oviparous, the egg- cases elliptical, with silky filaments. Two genera, 5 or 6 species, in cold waters. Fishes of most singular appearance, unlike any- thing else. a. Snout soft, not ending in a cutaneous flap; tail not bent upward. Chimera, 28. 28. CHIMERA Linnaeus. (Xi/iaipa, Chimmra, a fabulous monster, with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent.) 38. C. affinis Capello. Color plumbeous. Cold or deep water, S. to Cape Cod. (Eu.) (Lat., related, — to C. monstrosa.)TELEOSTOMI. 25 Subclass TELEOSTOMI. (The Teue Fishes.) Skeleton usually bony, sometimes cartilaginous. Skull with sutures; membrane bones (opercle, preopercle, etc.) present; gill openings a single slit on each side; gills with their outer edges free, their bases attached to bony arches, normally four pairs of these, the fifth pair being modified into tooth-bearing pharyngeals ; median and paired fins developed, the latter with distinct rays. Ova small; no claspers. Heart developed, divided into an auricle, ventricle, and arterial bulb. Lungs imperfectly developed, or modi- fied to form a swim-bladder, or entirely absent. We here include under one head the Ganoids and the Teleosts. The former type is chiefly composed of extinct forms. While many of its representatives are extremely dissimilar to the bony fishes, there is a gradual series of transitions, and between the Halecomorpld of the Ganoids and the Isospondyli of the true Teleosts, the resemblance is much greater than that between the Halecomorphi and many other Ganoids The Ganoids are, in fact, the most generalized of the true fishes, those nearest the stock from which the Teleosts on the one hand, and the Dipnoi and Batrachia on the other, have sprung. The real value or rank of some of the current orders or suborders is still doubtful. (rfKeos, perfect; aropa, mouth.) Omitting orders not represented in our waters, we have the following analysis of Orders of True Fishes. u. Arterial bulb muscular, with numerous valves; optic nerves forming a solid chiasma; ventrals abdominal; air-bladder with a duct; tail strongly heterocercal throughout life; some fins usually with fulcra. (Series Ganoidei.) b. Skeleton cartilaginous; ventrals with an entire series of basilar seg- ments. (Chondrostei.) c. Maxillary and interopercle obsolete; skin naked; air-bladder cellular. Selachostomi, VII. cc. Maxillary and interopercle present; skin with bony shields; air- bladder simple..............................Glaniostomi, VIII. bb. Skeleton bony; ventrals with basilar segments rudimentary; air-bladder cellular. (Holostei.) d. Vertebrae opisthoccelian (concavo-convex); maxillary transversely divided in several pieces; scales rhombic, enamelled plates. Ginglymodi, IX.26 TELEOSTOML dd. Vertebrae amphicoelian (double concave); maxillary not transversely divided; scales cycloid................ . Halecomorphi, X. aa. Arterial bulb thin, with a pair of opposite valves; optic nerves crossing, not forming a solid chiasma. (Series Teleostei.) e. Air-bladder (if present) connected by an air-duct with the intestinal canal, this persistent throughout life; ventral fins (if present) abdomi- nal, without spines, their basilar segments rudimental. (Soft-rayed fishes.) (Physostomi.) /. Shoulder girdle attached to the skull by means of a post-temporal bone (suprascapula); form not eel-like. g. Praecoracoid arch, present. h. Maxillary bone imperfect, forming the base of a long barbel; no subopercle nor svmplectic bone ; four anterior vertebras much modified, co-ossified, and with an ossicula auditus; supraoccipitals and parietals co-ossified; no scales. . . Nematognathi, XI. hk. Maxillary bone perfect, not entering into a barbel (rarely entirely wanting); subopercle and symplectic bone present. i. Anterior vertebra modified, co-ossified, and with the ossicula auditus..............................Eventognathi, XII. ii. Anterior vertebrae similar to the others, separate, and without ossicula auditus....................Isospondyli, XIII. gg. Praecoracoid arch obsolete; anterior vertebra not modified; parie- tal bones separated by supraoccipital; head scaly. Haplomi, XIV. ff. Shoulder girdle not attached to the skull; no praecoracoid arch; parietal bones in contact; maxillary wanting or united with the palatines; form eel-like...................... Apodes, XV. ee. Air-bladder without duct (in the adult); ventral fins without basal seg- ments, usually anterior in position; spines usually present in the fins; pectoral fins not on the plane of the abdomen ; parietal bones usu- ally separated by the supraoccipital. (Spiny-rayed fishes chiefly.) (Physoclysti.) j. Shoulder girdle connected to the skull by a post-temporal. k. Lower pharyngeals co-ossified; no spines; ventrals abdominal; lateral line on side of abdomen................Synentognathi, XVI. kk. Lower pharyngeals separate (or united, and the dorsal fin with spines.) I. Gills tufted; pharyngeal bones and most of the branchihyals want- ing; skin with bony plates..........Lophobranchii, XVII. II, Gills pectinate (as usual in fishes). m. Superior branchihyals and pharyngeals reduced in number ; ventrals sub-abdominal...........Hemibranchii, XVIII. mm. Superior branchihyals and pharyngeals in normal development. n. Ventral fins abdominal............... Percesoces, XIX. nn. Ventral fins thoracic or jugular, u. Pectoral fins not pediculate, the gill openings in front of them. p. Bones of the jaws distinct. q. Cranium normal.................Acanthopteri, XX. qq. Cranium twisted, so that both eyes are on the same side of head; no fin spines. . . Heterosomata, XXLARTIFICIAL KEY. 27 pp. Bones of jaws co-ossified, the maxillary with the pre- maxillary, the dentary with the articular. Plectognathi, XXII. oo. Pectoral fins pediculate, the basal bones reduced in number and elongate, the gills in their axils. Pediculati, XXIII. More than two hundred families are now recognized among the true fishes. The characters on which family divisions are based are usually internal, and often difficult for the beginner to ascer- tain. The boundaries and definitions of many families are also still uncertain. Instead, therefore, of giving a natural analysis under each order of the families included within it, I have thought it best to give instead an Artificial Key by which the student can recognize any of the families of True Fishes included in this work. For analytical keys showing, in some degree, the natural charac- ters, the student is referred to Jordan and Gilbert’s Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. A repetition of these analytical tables would consume considerable space, and would not be of much aid to any but advanced students. Artificial Key to the Families of True Fishes included in the Present Work. Series I. Ventral Fins present, abdominal. A. Dorsal fins two, the anterior rayed, the posterior adipose. B. Body naked; head with 4 to 8 barbels; dorsal and pectoral each with a strong spine......................................Silurid,e, 24. BB. Body scaly; no barbels; no spines. C. Maxillary wanting, or grown fast to premaxillary ; head scaly. Synodontid.e, 32. CC. Maxillaries distinct; head naked. D. Scales ctenoid; margin of upper jaw formed by premaxillaries alone...........................................Percopsid.®, 35. BD. Scales cycloid; margin of upper jaw formed in part by maxil- laries. E. Stomach a blind sac, with few pyloric caeca. (Smelt, etc.) A RGENTINIDAt, 33. EE. Stomach siphonal, with many pyloric caeca. Salmonidas, 34. AA. Dorsal fin single, with free spines before it; body naked, or with bony plates; ventral rays, 1,1,.................Gasterosteidje, 45. AAA. Dorsal fins two, the anterior of simple rays or spines, the posterior chiefly of soft rays; ventrals, I, 5. F. Teeth very strong, unequal; a lateral line present. Sphyr^enid.e, 48. FF. Teeth small, subequal; no lateral line. G. Dorsal spines slender, 4 to 8; anal spine 1. . . Atheki.n'Id.e, 47. GG. Dorsal spines stout, 4; anal spines, 2 or 3. . . . Mugilid.e, 46. AAAA. Dorsal fin single, of soft rays only (sometimes preceded by fulcra or followed by finlets). B. Tail evidently heterocercal. (Ganoid fishes.) I. Caudal forked, the lower lobe well developed.28 TELEOSTOMI. J. Body naked; snout spatulate; mouth wide, without barbels; caudal with fulcra.............................Polyodontid^e, 20. JJ. Body with 5 series of bony shields; head with bony shields; mouth inferior, toothless, preceded by 4 barbels; fins with fulcra. Acipenserid^e, 21. II. Caudal rounded or lanceolate; head with a bony casque. X. Scales ganoid (rhombic, enamelled plates); no gular plate; fins with fulcra; dorsal fin short................LEPisosTEiDiE, 22. XX. Scales cycloid; a bony gular plate; no fulcra; dorsal long. Amiid^e, 23. HE. Tail not evidently heterocercal (except in the very young). Y. Scales cycloid. K. Side of belly with a conspicuous ridge or lateral line; pectoral fins inserted high, on or above the axis of the body; lower lobe of caudal longest; lower pbaryngeals united. . Exoccetid^e, 42. KK. Edge of belly without conspicuous ridge or lateral line; pectoral fins inserted usually below axis of body; lower pharjmgeals separate. M. Vent before ventrals; eyes rudimentary. . Amblyopsid^e, 36. MM. Vent behind ventrals; eyes normal. N. Head more or less scaly. 0. Upper jaw not protractile, its margin formed by maxillaries posteriorly. P. Teeth cardiform, unequal................Esocid^e, 39. PP. Teeth villiform, equal...................Umbrtd^e, 38. 00. Upper jaw very protractile, its edge formed by premaxil- laries alone......................Cyprinodontid^e, 37. NN. Head without scales. Q. Gill membranes united with the isthmus; lower pharyngeals falciform; mouth toothless; anterior vertebras coalesced. R. Pharyngeal teeth larger, in one or more rows, the main row with less than 8 teeth; dorsal (in native species) with less than 10 rajrs................Cyprinid>e, 26. RR. Pharyngeal teeth very numerous, in one row; dorsal rays ten or more........................Catostomid^e, 25. QQ. Gill membranes free from the isthmus; lower pharyngeals flattish; anterior vertebrae not modified. S. Lateral line present. T. Lower jaw with a gular plate; fins with scaly sheaths. Elopid^e, 29. TT. Lower jaw without gular plate. U. Tongue with canine teeth; mouth terminal, oblique. Hiodontid^, 27. XJU. Tongue with blunt teeth; mouth inferior, horizontal. ALBULIDiE, 28. SS. Lateral line wanting. V. Mouth very wide, the maxillary reaching much beyond eye; snout short. . ... Stolephorid^e, 31. VV. Mouth moderate, the maxillary scarcely extending beyond eye.......................Clupeidje, 30. YY. Scales none; caudal with a long filament; snout long, tubular, with the small mouth at the end..............Fistulariidas, 44.ARTIFICIAL KEY. 29 Series II. Ventral Fins present, thoracic or jugular. A, Eyes unsymmetrical, both on same side of head. . Pleuronectid.e, 89. A A. Ej’es symmetrical. B. Gill openings in front of pectorals. C. Body more or less scaly, or armed with bony plates. D. Ventral fins united into one; no lateral line; gill membranes joined to isthmus........................ Gobiid. snout.) 31. ACIPENSER (Artedi) Linnasus. (Lat., sturgeon.) a. Plates between vent and A. large, in one or two rows. b. Space between dorsal and lateral shields with stellate plates of moder- ate size in 5 to 10 series: last dorsal shield of moderate size, more than half length of one before it. 41. A. sturio L. Common Sturgeon. First dorsal fulcrum somewhat enlarged, its surface rough ; dorsal shields 9 to 11; lateral shields 26 to 31; ventral, 9 or 10; 2 rows of 2 shields each, with one median shield between vent and anal. D. 40, A. 26. L. 8 to 12 feet. 1ST. Atlantic, ascending rivers; commonest N., S. to S. C. (A. oxyrhynchus Mitckill, the American form; said to have usually fewer lateral shields.) (Eu.) (Lat., sturgeon.) bb. Space between dorsal and lateral shields with minute plates in very many series. c. Last dorsal shield of moderate size, more than half length of next the last; dorsal shields 15 or 16. "^42. A. rubicundus Le Sueur. Lake Sturgeon. Rock Stur- geon. First dorsal fulcrum slightly enlarged; dorsal shields 15; lateral 38, ventral 10; 3 shields in a single row between anal finLEPISOSTEIDiE. — XXII. 35 and vent. D. 42, A. 27. Changes greatly with age, the young with sharp snout and very rough shields, and the spines strongly hooked ; the adult with blunt snout and small smooth shields, most of them finally lost. L. 6 feet. Miss. Valley, Great Lakes, and N., abundant, ascending rivers in spring, but not entering the sea. (Lat., ruddy.) ce. Last dorsal shield very small, less than half length of next the last j dorsal shields 10 to 12. 43. A. brevirostrum Le Sueur. Snout short, bluntish, much shorter than rest of head. Dorsal shields 11; lateral, 30 ; ventral, 9 ; one shield between anal and vent. D. 43, A. 24. N. Y. to Fla., scarce. (Lat. brevis, short; rostrum, snout.) Order IX. GINGLYMODI. This order, defined on page 25, contains but one family among recent fishes, although it has many allies among extinct forms; (yryyXupor, hinge ; e’Sos, tooth.) Family XXII. LEPISOSTEIDAE. (The Gar-fishes.) Body subcylindical, covered with rhombic enamelled “ ganoid ” scales, imbricated in oblique series which run downward and back- ward. Jaws both elongate, the upper always projecting ; pre- maxillary forming most of upper jaw, the maxillary transversely divided into several pieces; lower jaw formed much as in rep- tiles ; both jaws with an outer series of small teeth followed by one or two series of larger teeth of peculiar structure; close-set, rasp- like teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines; tongue toothless, broad, emarginate; external bones of head very hard, rugose. Eyes moderate; nostrils near end of snout; pseudobranchise present, besides an opercular gill; B. 3; no spiracles; air-bladder cellular, joined by a glottis to the oesophagus, resembling the lungs of rep- tiles, and used in respiration. Fins with fulcra; D. short, nearly opposite A.; tail lieterocercal, produced as a filament in young; vertebrae with ball and socket joint, as in reptiles; pyloric cceea many. One genus now living, with 3 or 4 species. Singular fishes, inhabiting the lakes and larger rivers of Eastern North America. The species are extremely variable in coloration, length of snout, proportions, etc., a fact which has given rise to a multitude of use- less specific names. 32. LEPISOSTETIS Lac^pede. (Xfiri'i, scale; doreov, bone; more correctly written Lepidosleus, but the above is the original word.) u. Beak long and slender, the snout more than twice length of rest of head. 44. L. osseus (L.). Common Gar-Pike. Long-nosed Gar. Bill-fish. Olivaceous; vertical fins and posterior parts with36 TELEOSTEI: HALECOMORPHI. — X. round black spots, distinct in young; very young with black lateral band. Length of snout 15 to 20 times its least width; large teeth of upper jaw in one row in the adult. Head 3 in length. D. 8, A. 9, V. 6, P. 10. Lat. 1. 62. L. 5 feet. Great Lakes to Carolina and Mexico; abundant. (Lat., bony.) aa. Beak shorter and broader, the snout not much longer than rest of head. b. Large teeth of upper jaw in one row on each side in adult: (an additional row on the palatines sometimes present in young.) 45. L. platjstomus Rafinesque. Short-nosed Gar-Pike. Snout usually 1 to lj times rest of head, its length 5 to 6 times its least width. Head in length, otherwise almost exactly as in L. osseus, the color rather darker, the size smaller. L. 3 feet. Miss, valley, etc., less common N. (nXarvs, flat; ord/ra, mouth.) bb. Large teeth of upper jaw in two series, the inner along outer edge of palatines. 46. L. tristcechus (Bloch & Schneider). Alligator Gar. Manjuari. Snout usually shorter than rest of head, its least width 3^ in its length, otherwise essentially like the others; but reaching an enormous size. L. 10 feet. Ills, to Mexico and Cuba. (rpis, three ; oroiyoy, row.) Order X. HALECOMORPHI. (The Bow-fins.) This group, characterized on page 26, contains a single family among recent fishes. (Lat. lictlec, herring ; popffir], form.) Family XX11I. AMIIDA3. (The Bow-fins.) Body oblong, robust, with thick cycloid scales. Head sub- conical, bluntish, covered above by a very hard bony helmet; lateral margins of upper jaws formed by the maxillaries, which are divided by a lengthwise suture. Mouth horizontal, its cleft extend- ing beyond the small eye ; lower jaw broad, a broad bony striated gular plate placed between its rami; premaxillaries not protractile; jaws each with an outer series of conical teeth, behind them in the lower a band of rasp-like teeth ; small teeth on vomer, palatines, and pterygoids; anterior nostril with a short barbel; cheek with a bony shield. B. 10 to 12. No pseudobranchiae, nor opercular gill; two lanceolate striate appendages on each side of isthmus; gill rakers very short, stout. Lateral line present. Dorsal fin long and low, nearly uniform ; no fulcra ; anal fin short; tail hete- rocercal. Vertebras double-convex, as usual among fishes. Air- bladder, somewhat as in the Dipnoi and Bcitrachia, cellular, bifid in front, connected by a glottis with the pharynx. No closed ovi- duct ; no pyloric caeca. One species known, in the lakes and slug- gish waters of North America, — a voracious fish, remarkably tenacious of life, and with soft and pasty flesh.AMIIDiE. — XXIII. 37 33. A£££& Linnseus. (Amiatus Rafinesque.) (a/ii'a, ancient name of some fish.) 47. A. calva L. Bow-fin. Mud-fish. Dog-fish. “John A. Grindle.” Blackish olive, sides with greenish reticulations, lower side of head with dark spots ; $ with a black ocellus edged with orange at base of C. above. Head. 3 J; depth 4. D. 48. A. 11. Lat. 1. 67. g 18 inches; 9 24. Swamps and lakes, Vt. to Dakota, Fla., and Texas; abundant in lowlands. A fish of great interest to zoologists, from its relation to earlier types. (Lat., bald.) Series TELEOSTEI. We now take up the series of Teleoslei proper, or true Bony- fishes, a group comprising the great majority of existing fishes. It is apparently descended from the Ganoid type, the Nemalo- gnathi being apparently allies or descendants of the Glaniostomi, and the Isospondyli of the Ilalecomorphi. As a whole, the Tele- oslei differ from the Ganoids in the more perfectly ossified skeleton, the less heterocercal tail, the degradation of the air-bladder and the arterial bulb, and in the simplicity of the optic chiasma. The Teleostei are divisible into two great groups, with rather ill-defined boundaries, — the Physostomi, or soft-rayed fishes, and the Physoclysti, or spiny-rayed. The members of the former group have throughout life a slender duct, by which the air-bladder is joined to the alimentary canal. In most cases the fin-rays are soft, the ventrals abdominal, the pectorals placed low, and the scales cycloid. Although the typical Physostomi differ in many ways from the more specialized Physoclysti, yet as we approach the junction of the two groups the subordinate differences disap- pear, leaving finally the presence of the air-duct in Physostomi as the only differential character. In view of this close relation of the two groups, several writers, following Professor Gill, have re- moved as separate orders various aberrant forms, leaving the bulk of both groups in one large order, Teleocephali, with numerous suborders. We prefer to regard most of these suborders as dis- tinct orders rather than to treat the heterogeneous group of Teleocephali as an “ order.” (rf'Xfor, perfect; dareov, bone.) Order XI. NEMATOGNATHI. This order contains several families, which agree in having the subopercle wanting, the anterior vertebras coalesced, and the max- illary reduced to the bony core of a long barbel. None of the order have scales, (vijpa, thread; yvados, jaw.)38 TELEOSTEI: NEMATOGNATHI. — XI. Family XXIV. SILURID^E. (The Cat-fishes.) Body more or less elongate, naked or with bony plates ; margin of upper jaw formed by premaxillaries only, the rudimentary maxillaries forming the base of a long barbel; teeth in villiform bands. Dorsal fin usually present, short, above or before ventrals; usually an adipose fin behind dorsal. First ray of dorsal and pec- torals usually developed as a stout spine. Lower pharyngeals separate. Air-bladder present, large. A vast family of more than 100 genera and 900 species, mostly of the rivers and swamps of warm regions, especially of South America and Africa. A few species are marine. Many of them are excellent as food, and all are very tenacious of life. u. Dorsal short, placed before ventrals; adipose fin present; gill membranes more or less free from isthmus; body naked. b. Anterior and posterior nostrils close together, neither with a barbel, the posterior with a valve; palatines with teeth; caudal forked. Marine species. (TachysurintB.) c. Lower jaw with 2 barbels; maxillary barbel band-like; dorsal and pectoral spines ending in striated filaments. . Ailuriciithys, 34. cc. Lower jaw with 4 barbels; spines not filamentous. Tachysurus, 35. bb. Anterior and posterior nostrils well separated, the posterior with a barbel; barbels 8; teeth in jaws only, (Ictalurmce.) d. Adipose fin with its posterior margin free. e. Premaxillary band of teeth, without backward processes. f. Supraoccipital bone prolonged backward so that its emarginate apex fits closely around the anterior point of the second inter- spinal, thus forming a continuous bony bridge extending from the head to the dorsal spine. (Silvery species ; C. deeply forked.)..................................Ictalurus, 36. ff. Supraoccipital bone not reaching the second interspinal, the bony bridge more or less interrupted. ff. Eyes normal..............................Ajieiurus, 37. gg. Eyes concealed by the skin.....................Gronias, 38. ee. Premaxillary band of teeth, with a lateral backward process on each side; lower jaw prominent...................Lectors, 39. dd. Adipose fin keel-like, adnate to the back, more or less joined to caudal fin; a (venom) pore in axil of pectoral. . Noturus, 40. 34. AILURICHTHYS Baird & Girard. (aiXovpor, cat; l\6vs, fish.) 48. A. marinus (Mitchill). Gaff-Topsail. Sea Cat. Dusky bluish. Head short and broad. Maxillary barbels reaching end of P. spine ; P. filament reaching vent, D. filament to adipose fin ; upper lobe of C. longer; palatine teeth in a nearly continuous band. Head 4|. D. I. 7. A. 23 L. 30 in. N. Y. to Texas, common S., not entering streams.SILURIDA5. — XXIV. 39 35. TACHYSURTTS Lace'pede. (Galeichthys and Arius Cuv. & Yal.) (racily, swift; ovpa, tail.) a. Teeth all pointed; top of head with a bony occipital shield which is not covered by skin; bands of palatine teeth without backward prolongation on the median line; vomerine bands of teeth not confluent; ante-dorsal shield small, crescent-shaped; eyeswe.il above angle of mouth; species with blue lustre in life. (Ariopsis Gill.) 49. T. felis (L.). Sea Cat-fisii. Interorbital area flattish and smooth, without ridges or granulations; fins not low, the spines more than half length of head; vomerine teeth in a small patch; palatine teeth in a larger one, on each side, the four patches separate ; fontanelle prolonged backward as a narrow groove; occipital process long, about J head, convex at tip, with a median keel; gill membranes not meeting at an angle ; maxillary barbel nearly as long as head. L. 24. N. Y. to Mexico ; common S. (Lat., cat.) 36. ICTALURUS Rafinesque. (iydjy, fish ; atXovpoy, cat.) U. Anal fin very long; its rays 32 to 35; its base nearly ) of body. 50. I. furcatus (Cuv.&Val.). Chuckle-headed Cat. Silvery, nearly plain; eye small, wholly before middle of head; head 4J; depth 5. Miss, valley, not uncommon. (Lat., forked.) aa. Anal fin moderate; its rays 24 to 30; its base 3) to 4 in body. 51. I. punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel Cat. White Cat. Silver Cat. Olivaceous, rarely blackish, the sides silvery, al- most always with small round dark olive spots; eye large, not wholly in front of middle of head; mouth small; barbels long; spines strong, serrate ; head 4 ; depth 5. L. 3 feet. Montana to Vt., Ga., and Mexico, very abundant in flowing streams. A hand- some fish, the best in the family as food. (Lat., spotted.) 37. AMEITJRUS Rafinesque. (a privative; peiovpos, curtailed, the tail not notched.) a. Caudal fin forked (species approaching Ictalurus). b. Anal rays 25 to 35; humeral process very short and blunt; usually covered by skin, about J length of pectoral spine. 52. A. nigricans (Le Sueur). Great Cat-fish. Mississippi Cat. Flannel-mouthed Cat. Slaty bluish, growing darker with age ; body stouter than in the Channel Cat, the head broader, lower, and more depressed, the mouth wider, the caudal less forked, the skin thicker, hiding the bones of the head; head depressed above; supraoccipital above almost reaching second interspinal, the bony bridge broken for a short distance only ; anal about as long as head ; head 4 in length ; depth 5 ; D. I. 5 or 6 ; A. 25 to40 TELEOSTEI: NEMATOGNATHI.—XI. 32. Ontario to Florida and Texas, abundant in lakes and large rivers, reaching 100 pounds or more. (A. ponderosus Bean, from St. Louis, described from a specimen 5 feet long, weighing 150 pounds, is probably a giant example of this species, differing only in having 35 anal rays. I find 25, 27, 28, and 32 in four specimens of A. nigricans.) (Lat., blackish.) bb. Anal rays 20 to 23; humeral process very rough, more than half length of pectoral spine. 53. A. albidus (Le Sueur). White Cat. Channel Cat op TnE Potomac. Olive-bluish, silvery below; body stout; head broad, becoming with age very broad, the mouth in old specimens wider than in any other species; C. shallow-forked. L. 24, Penn, to N. C., very abundant in Potomac K. Varies much with age. (Lat., whitish.) aa. Caudal fin entire or very slightly emarginate. (Ameiukus.) d. Anal fin long, of 24 to 27 rays (counting rudiments), its base more than £ length of body. 54. A. natalis (Le Sueur). Yellow Cat. Yellowish, green- ish, or blackish; body stout, the head short and broad, with wide mouth. Great Lakes to Va. and Texas, common in sluggish streams. L. 15. Excessively variable. (Lat., having large nates, i. e. adipose fin.) dd. Anal fin moderate, of 18 to 22 rays, its base 4 to 5 in body, e. Lower jaw projecting. 55. A. vulgaris (Thompson). Blackish; head 3\ to 4; A. 20; P. spine in head. Great Lakes to Manitoba, essentially as in A. nebulosus, except for the form of the mouth; very likely a variety. (Lat., common.) ee. Lower jaw not projecting. f Pectoral spines long, 2 to 2J in head; anal rays more than 20. 56. A. nebulosus1 (Le Sueur). Common Bullhead. Horned Pout. Hark yellowish brown, varying from yellowish to black sometimes (var. marmoratus Holbrook), sharply mottled with dark green and whitish; A. rays usually 21 or 22; its base 4 in body ; pectoral spines long. L. 18. New England to Wis., Va., 1 The Horned Pout are “dull and blundering fellows,” fond of the mud, and grow- ing best in weedy ponds and rivers without current. They stay near the bottom, moving slowly about with their barbels widely spread, watching for anything eat- able. They will take any kind of bait, from an angle-worm to a piece of a tin tomato- cau, without coquetry, and they seldom fail to swallow the hook. They are very tenacious of life, “ opening and shutting their mouths for half an hour after their heads have been cut off.” They spawn in spring, and the old fishes lead the young in great schools near the shore, seemingly caring for them as the hen for her chickens. “ A bloodthirsty and bullying set of rangers, with ever a lance in rest, and ready to do battle with their nearest neighbor." (T/ioreau.)SILURIDA1. — XXIV. 41 and Texas, common, the best known of the smaller Cat-fishes. In- troduced into the rivers of Cal. (Lat., clouded.) ff. Pectoral spines short, 2J to 3 in head (longest in the young); A. 17 to 19. 57. A. melas (Rafinesque). Adult very plump ; young more slender. Color usually blackish. A. short and deep, its rays usually 17 to 19, its base nearly 5 in length, its pale rays forming a sharp contrast with the dusky membranes. N. Y. to Kansas, gen- erally common ; very close to A. nebulosus. (jit\as, black.) 38. CRONIAS Cope, (ypon'i), cavern.) 58. Or, nigrilabris Cope. Upper parts, jaws, and fins black; eyes nearly hidden by thick skin; barbels and spines rather short. A. 18. Cave stream, tributary to Conestoga R., E. Penn. A recent descendant of A. melas or nebulosus, rendered blind by subterranean life. (Lat. niger, black; labrum, lip.) 39. LEPTOPS Rafinesque. (Aenros, thin; &\jr, face.) 59. L. olivaris (Rafinesque). Mud Cat. Flat-head Cat. Russian Cat. Bashaw. Goujon. Yellowish, much mottled with brown. Body slender, the head broad and much depressed, the lower jaw projecting; barbels short; dorsal spine very weak; pectoral spines strong; anal short. A. 12 to 15. C. scarcely emarginate. A very large species, reaching 75 pounds, abundant in sluggish streams, Ohio to Ga. and S. W. A good food fish, of unprepossessing appearance. 40. NOTURUS Rafinesque. Stone Cats.1 (vu>tos, back; ovpa, tail.) a. Premaxillar}' band of teeth with lateral backward processes, as in Leptops. (Noturus.) 60. N. flavus (Rafinesque). Yellowish brown, nearly uniform ; body elongate; head broad and flat; barbels short; adipose fin deeply notched; a keel on back before it; D. spines short; P. spine retrorse-serrate in front, roughish behind; A. 16. L. 12. Ontario to Va., Neb., and Tenn., not rare in large streams. (Lat., yellow.) aa. Premaxillary band of teeth without backward processes. (Schilbeodes Bleeker.) b. Pectoral spine serrate on its posterior edge, roughish in front; adipose fin notched. 1 These little fishes abound in small brooks among logs and weeds. The wounds produced by the sting of their sharp pectoral spines are excessively painful. In the axil is usually a pore, probably the opening of a duct from a poison gland. This matter deserves inver-1 "gatiou.42 TELEOSTEI : EVENTOGNATIII. — XII. c. Pectoral spines moderate, the inner scrne weak, not half diameter of spine, the outer stronger, retrorse, body elongate; coloration nearly uniform, the fins darker edged. d. Pectoral spine short and weak, about 3 in head in adult. 61. N. exilis Nelson. Head small, rather narrow, depressed, 4 in length ; depth 6; pectoral spine retrorse-serrate without, with 6 small teeth within; humeral process obscure ; jaws subequal. A. 14 to 17. L. 4. Wis. to Kansas. (AT. elassochir Swain & Kalb.) (Lat., slim.) dd. Pectoral spine longer, about 2 (1|- to 2^) in head. G2. N. insignis (Richardson). Head rather broad, flat and thin, the upper jaw projecting ; head ; depth 6. A. 14 to 16. L. 10. Pa. to S. C., common E. (Lat., remarkable). cc. Pectoral spine very strong, curved, more than half head, its posterior seme recurved, their length about equal to diameter of spine, the anterior serrse small. e. Color much variegated; adipose fin deeply notched, but not separated from C. 63. N. miurug Jordan. Grayish; top of head, tip of dorsal, middle of adipose fin, and caudal black, the body with four black cross-blotches; head not specially depressed eye 4^ in head ; hu- meral process moderate; pectoral spine If to 1| in head ; head 3f. A. 13 to 15. L. 5. E. N. C. to Minn, and La., abundant. (p«'- ovpos, curtailed.) ee. Color nearly plain brownish, everywhere above covered with fine small dots; adipose fin almost or quite free from caudal. 64. N. eleutherus Jordan. Head broad, flat, depressed, the form very much as in Leplops olivaris; humeral process obscure; eye 5f in head; pectoral spine If to 2 in head; head 3f; A. 13. L. 4. White R., Ind., and French Broad R.; 3 specimens known. (eXeuflepor, free.) bb. Pectoral spine entire, grooved behind; adipose fin continuous with the caudal. 65. N. gyrinus (Mitchill). Head short, broad and deep; pecto- ral spine 2 in head ; jaws subequal, yellowish brown, not blotched, but with a narrow black lateral streak, sometimes with two above it. A. 15 or 16. L. 5. Hudson R. to Minn, and La., common N. (yvplvos, tadpole.) Order XH. EVENTOGNATHI. (The Plectospondy- lous Fishes.) This group, defined on page 26, contains the great majority of the fresh-water fishes of the world. Its essential character is in the modification of the anterior vertebra;, as in the Nematognalhi,CATOSTOMIDrE. — XXV. 43 without the characters of the rudimentary subopercle and maxil- lary, and the absence of scales, which distinguish the Cat-fishes. The chief families are the Cyprinidce and the Characinidce; the latter, abundant in South America, have an adipose fin and usually teeth in the jaws, (ev, well; euros, within ; yvados, jaw.) Family XXV. CATOSTOMID-iE. (The Suckers.) Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales; head naked ; jaws toothless and without barbels, the maxillary forming a large part of the edge of the upper jaw; mouth usually protractile, the lips generally thick and fleshy ; lower pharyngeal bones falciform, with many comb-like teeth in one row; branchiostegals 3; gill mem- branes united to isthmus ; dorsal fin rather long, of 11 to 50 rays,1 without spine; anal short; caudal forked; ventrals abdominal, of about 10 rays; pectorals low; no adipose fin. Alimentary canal long, without cceca. Air-bladder large, divided into two or three parts by transverse constrictions. Genera 11, species about 60, inhabiting the rivers of North America ; two species in Asia. The Suckers feed on plants and small amimals; the flesh is rather tasteless and full of small bones. They ascend the rivers to spawn in spring, at which time the males have usually the A. and C., and often other parts of the body, covered with tubercles. a. Dorsal fin elongate, its rays 25 to 50 in number; air-bladder in two parts. b. Fontanelle present; body oblong-ovate. (Ictiobina.) c. Dorsal rays 25 to 35; scales large (34 to 41) .... Ictiobijs, 41. bb. Fontanelle obliterated by the union of the parietal bones; body elon- gate. (Cycleptince.) d. Mouth small, inferior, with thick papillose lips; scales small (56). Cycleftus, 42. aa. Dorsal fin short, its rays 10 to 18. (Catoslnmince.) e. Air-bladder in two parts; lower pharyngeals slender, with small teeth. /. Lips thick, papillose; lateral line complete and continuous; scales small (he to 115); fontanelle present; mouth small, inferior. ™ Catostomus, 43. ff. Lips thin, plicate; scales large (40 to 50). g. Lateral line wholly wanting, at all ages. . . . Erimyzon, 44. gg. Lateral line imperfect in young, nearly complete in the adult. Minytrema, 45. ee. Air-bladder in three parts; fontanelle present; scales large (about 45); lateral line complete. h. Mouth normal, the upper jaw protractile; the lips more or less plicate. i. Lower pharyngeal bones moderate, the teeth compressed, gradu- ally increasing in size downward......Moxostoma, 46. ii. Lower pharyngeal bones very strong, with the lower teeth much enlarged, subcylindrical and truncate; the upper teeth small and compressed.......................Placofhakynx, 47. 1 In this family, the rudimentary rays before dorsal and anal are not counted.44 TELEOSTEI : EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. hh. Mouth singular, the upper lip not protractile, greatly enlarged; the lower split into two separate lobes; pharyngeal bones, etc. as in Moxostoma..............................Lagochila, 48. 41. ICTIOBUS Rafinesque. Buffalo-fishes. (This genus contains an uncertain number of species, very few of which have been yet well defined. They are large, coarse suckers, especially characteristic of the streams of the Mississippi valley. The group much needs careful study, such as could only he given by a collector resident near some large market). (l\6vs, fish; (3ois, buffalo.) o. Mouth large, terminal, protractile forwards; lips thin; lower pharyngeals and teeth weak. (Sclerognathus Cuv. & Val.) 66. I. cyprinella (Cuv. & Val.). Common Buffalo-fish. Red-mouthed Buffalo. Body robust, the outline somewhat elliptical; head very large and thick; opercle coarsely striate, nearly half length of head; lips scarcely plicate ; color dull brown- ish olive, not silvery; fins dusky. Head 3J; depth S. D. 28, A. 9; scales 7-37 to 41-6. L. 3 feet. Miss, valley, etc., common; reaches 20 to 40 pounds weight. (Lat., a small carp.) aa. Mouth smaller, more or less inferior, protractile downwards, and with thicker lips. b. Lower pharyngeal bones strong, the teeth comparatively coarse and large, increasing in size downwards ; dusky species, not silvery. (Ictiobus.) 67. I. urus (Agassiz). Razor-backed Buffalo. Mongrel Buffalo. Body not much elevated, the back not keeled, the axis of the body not much farther from back than from line of belly; head thicker and blunter than in 1. bubalus; eye smaller than in I. bubalus; mouth much larger and more oblique, approach- ing that of I. cyprinella, but with lips thicker and plicate, the folds broken up into papillae ; longest dorsal rays scarcely half of base of fin, opercle coarsely striate. Color very dark; fins dark. Head 3^ to 4; depth 3. D. 30; scales 8-41-7. L. 2^ feet. Miss, valley, less common than the others ; certainly different from I. bubalus, but not always distinguishable by me from 1. cyprinella, and possi- bly not really different. (Lat., a wild bull.) 68. I. bubalus (Rafinesque). Suckf.r-mouthed Buffalo. Small-mouthed Buffalo. Body considerably elevated, the back compressed; axis of body much nearer line of belly than hack; head not very blunt, the mouth small and inferior ; eye 4 to 5 in head, rather large ; longest dorsal rays much more than half base of fin in adult; coloration dusky, the fins scarcely black. Head 4; depth 2|; D. 29; scales 8-39-6. L. 2^ feet. Miss, valley, etc., common. (Bubaliclithys bubalus Agassiz.) (Lat., buffalo.)CATOSTOMIDAS. XXV. 45 bb. Lower pharyngeal bones narrow, with the teeth thin and weak; species of pale coloration, more or less silvery. {Carp Suckers.) (Carpiodes Eatinesque.) c. Body subfusiform, the depth about 3 in length, lips thin, silvery white in life, the halves of the lower lip meeting at a wide angle. 69. I. carpio (Rafinesque). Back compressed, little arched ; snout not blunt, projecting little beyond the mouth, its length a little more than that of eye; nostrils not close to tip of snout; opercle strongly striate ; longest dorsal rays f- to f length of base of fin, the anterior rays sometimes thickened, never filamentous ; eye small, 4^ to 5 in head. Head short, 4 in length; depth 3. D. 25 to 27 ; scales 7-37-5. Color dull silvery, sometimes brassy, some of the scales above often brownish at base. Ohio valley to Texas ; probably a valid species, but of doubtful name and synonymy. (Lat., carp.) cc. Body ovate-oblong, the hack elevated, the depth about 21 iu the length. d. Opercle strongly striate. e. Lips thin, silver-white in life, the halves of lower lip meeting at a wide angle, as in I. carpio. 70. I. difformis (Cope). Similar to I. velifer, but with very blunt snout, the maxillary reaching front of pupil ; nostril very near tip of snout and above or before upper lip ; eyes large (3£ to 4 in head) ; dorsal very high. Head 4; depth 2|. Ohio valley. 71. I. thompsoni (Agassiz). Resembles /. velifer, but with the head small and pointed, the snout considerably projecting ; eye small, 5 to 5^ in head. Back arched. Head 4^ ; depth 2^. Great Lakes, abundant (specimens examined from Toledo). (For Rev. Zadock Thompson.) ee. Lips full, thick, flesh-colored in life, the halves of lower lip meeting at an acute angle. 72. I. velifer (Rafinesque). Quill-back. Skim-back. - Carp Sucker. River Carp. Snout sub-conic, projecting; anterior nostril distant from snout more than half an eye’s diameter and considerably behind front of upper lip ; maxillary reaching about to front of orbit; eye moderate or small, 4 to 5 in head; ante- rior rays of dorsal always elevated and filamentous, infrequently as long as base of fin. Head 3f to 4£; depth 2^ to 3. D. 26; scales 7-37-5. Coloration usually pale. Miss, valley, etc., very abundant; variable. (Lat., bearing sails.) dd. Opercle nearly smooth. 73. I. cyprinus (Le Sueur). Carp Sucker. Body rather deep, the eye quite small, the dorsal fin high, otherwise essentially as in 1. velifer. Pa. to Va., chiefly about Chesapeake Bay. (Lat., carp.)46 TELEOSTEI: EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. 42. CYCLEPTUS Rafinesque. (kvkKos, round ; Affrrdr, slender ; according to Rafinesque, small round mouth.) 74. C. elongatus (Le Sueur). Black Horse. Gourd-seed Sucker. Missouri Sucker. Head small, short and slender, rounded above ; opercles small; eye small; fins large. Color blackish; $ in spring covered with small tubercles. Head 7 ; depth 4^; D. 30; scales 9-56-7. L. feet. Miss, valley, rather common in larger streams. 43. CATOSTOMTJS Lc Sueur. Fine-scaled Suckers. (icarai, inferior ; aropa, mouth.) a. Scales very small, much reduced and crowded anteriorly, about 100 in the lateral line. (Catoslomus.) 75. C. oatostomus (Forster). Northern Sucker. Upper lip thin, with 2 to 4 rows of papiUse; snout long, overhanging the large mouth. Males in spring profusely tuberculate and with a broad rosy lateral band. Great Lakes to Alaska, very abundant N. aa. Scales larger, but small and crowded forwards, about 65 in the lateral line. (Decactylus Ralm^que.)^ j ^ 76. C. ^eres^fS^tehSl). iCommon Sucker. White Sucker. Upper lip thin, with 2 or 3 rows of papillae ; snout shorter than in the preceding, the mouth smaller. Color olivaceous, dusky above; sides rosy in spring. Head 4^; depth 4\. D. 12. Scales 10-64 to 70-9. L. 18. Canada to Montana and Fla.; commonest of the Suckers, and extremely variable. (Lat., terete.) aaa. Scales large, scarcely crowded anteriorly, 48 to 55 in the lateral line. (Hypentelium Rafinesque.) 77. C. nigricans Le Sueur. Hog Sucker. Stone Roller. Stone Lugger. Stone Toter. Hammer-head. Crawl-a- Bottom. Hog Molly. Hog Mullet. Head flattened above, concave between eyes; the frontal bone thick, broad and short; eyes small, placed high ; upper lip thick, with 8 to 10 rows of papillai; lower fins large. Color brassy olive, the back with dark cross-blotches, disappearing with age; lower fins red. Head 4; depth 4f. I). 11. Lat. 1. 48 to 55. L. 2 feet. Lakes and clear streams, W. N. Y. to Ala. and Kans. (Lat, blackish.) 44. ERIMYZON Jordan, (rpi, an intensive particle; ptlfffl, to suck.) 78. E. sucetta (Lacepede). Chub Sucker. Sweet Sucker. Creek-fish. Scales crowded, deeper than long; mandible oblique. Color dusky, brassy below ; young with black bands or bars and pale streaks. Head 4 ; depth 21 in adult; spring males with 6 tubercles on snout. D. 11 to 13. Scales 43-15 in the northern form, var. oblongus Mitchill (the true sucetta, southern, with scalesCAT0ST0MIDA1. — XXV. 47 36-15). Mass, to Dakota and S., very common. (Var. sucetta, Va. to Fla. and Texas.) (Fr. sucet, sucker.) 45. MINYTREMA Jordan. (pirns, lessened ; Tpijpa, aperture; from the imperfect lateral line.) 79. M. melanops Rafinesque. Striped Sucker. Body subterete, little compressed; mouth small, inferior; eye small; scales little crowded forwards. Color dusky, coppery below, a dusky blotch behind dorsal; each scale with a dark spot at its base, most distinct in adult, these forming longitudinal stripes; g tuberculate in spring ; lateral line wanting in young, imperfect at 8 inches, nearly complete in adults. Head 4J ; depth 3 to i\. D. 12 to 14. Scales 46-13. L. 15. Great Lakes to S. C. and Texas. (pe\as, black ; Qjy, look.) 46. MOXOSTOMA Rafinesque. Red House. (pv(a, to suck; oro/ia, mouth.) a. Lips distinctly plicate. b. Dorsal large, with 15 to 18 developed rays, its free edge not concave. 80. M. anisurum (Rafinesque). White Nose Sucker. Body robust, compressed; mouth large, inferior, the upper lip thin, the lower strongly A-shaped ; D. high and large, the first ray about as long as fin; upper lobe of C. narrow, longer than lower. Color pale ; C. smoky gray ; lower fins red. Head 4 ; depth 3-L D. 15 to 18. L. 18. N. C. to Ohio R., Great Lakes, and N. (Catost. carpio C. & V., not of Raf.; Mox. valenciennesi Jordan ; Ptychosto- mus velatus and collapsus Cope, (oi/icror, unequal; ovpa, tail.) bb. Dorsal fin moderate, of 12 to 14 rays; lower lip full, scarcely A-shaped, nearly truncate behind. c. Dorsal fin with its free margin nearly straight. d. Head large, 4 to 4j in length. 81. M. macrolepidotum (Le Sueur). Common Red Horse. White Sucker. “Mullet.” Head broad,flattish above; mouth large, with thick lips; depth of cheek usually more than half dis- tance from snout to preopercle; eye large; edge of D. nearly straight, its first ray shorter than head ; C. lobes subequal. Oliva- ceous, with bright reflections ; sides silvery; lower fins always orange-red, C. sometimes so. Head 4 to nearly 5; depth 3£. D. usually 13 ; A. 7. Scales as in other species 5-45-4. L. 2 feet. Chesapeake Bay to Dakota and Ala., very abundant; the western form (var. duqueanei Le Sueur) with head and mouth rather larger than in the eastern form, which approaches M. aureolum. (paKpos, large ; XemScords, scaled.) dd. Head short and small, 4J to 5J in length. 82. M. aureolum (Le Sueur). Lake Red Horse. Head shorter and smaller; mouth rather small, with thick lips; snout48 TELEOSTEI : EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. bluntish; eye moderate ; C. lobes subequal; D. rather low, its longest ray less than base of fin. Coloration of preceding, the tail as well as lower fins always red. 11. 13 ; depth 3^. Great Lakes, etc. Sometimes confounded with the next, from which it is well distinguished, but it may intergrade with the preceding. (Lat., gilded.) cc. Dorsal falcate, the free margin deeply incised. 83. M. crassilabre 1 (Cope). Form of a Coregonus, with deep, compressed body, small head, and sharply conic snout, which over- hangs the very small mouth; eye small, 5 in head. D. high, the anterior rays Ilf to 1-| times base of fin; free margin of fin con- cave, so that the fin is decidedly falcate. C. lobes very unequal, the upper always longest; A. large, falcate, reaching beyond front of C. D. and C. bright red. Head 5 to 5J; depth 31- to 3J; lat. 1. 45. Ohio R. to N. C. (Plychostomus crassilabris, conus, and breviceps Cope; M. anisura Jor. & Gilb., not of Raf.) (Lat. crassus, thick; labrum, lip.) bbb. Dorsal fin quite small, of 10 to 12 rays; lower lip thick, truncate behind. 84. M. cervinum (Cope). Jump-rocks. Jumping Mullet. Head very short, rather pointed; mouth rather large, the lips strongly plicate; eye small; fins all small; free edge of dorsal straight, its longest ray less than head. Color greenish brown, a pale blotch on each scale, these forming continuous streaks; back with brownish blotches; fins brownish, scarcely red. Head 5; depth 4. D. 11. Scales 6-44 to 49-5. L. 10 inches. Ya. to Ga., not rare. (Lat., tawny, like a deer.) 47. PLACOPHAEYNX Cope. (7rAd£, a broad surface ; (papvyg, pharynx.) 85. P. carinatus Cope. A large, coarse sucker, externally similar to the species of Moxostoma, from which genus it differs only in the remarkable development of the lower pharyngeals and their teeth; the bones are very strong, and 6 to 10 of the lower teeth are enlarged, little compressed, with a broad rounded or flattened grinding surface; the mouth is larger and more oblique than in M. macrolepidotum and the lips are thicker. Head broad and flattish above, its upper surface somewhat uneven; longest rays of dorsal longer than base of fin, 1]. in head; free edge of D. concave ; upper lobe of C. narrower than lower, and more or less longer. Color dark olive-green, the sides brassy; no silvery lustre; C. and lower fins orange-red. Head 4; depth 3^. D. 12. Scales 6-45-5. L. 30. Ohio to Ga. and Ark., abundant in larger streams. (Lat., keeled.) 1 This description is from notes of Dr. C. H. Gilbert, taken from Ohio R. specimens.CYPKINID2E. — XXVi. 49 48. LAGOCHILA Jordan & Brayton. (Quassilabia Jord. & Brayt.; Lagochila being set aside, on account of its similarity to Lagocheilus.) (A ay to s, hare; yflAos-, lip.) 86. L. lacera Jordan & Brayton. Hare-lip Sucker. Rabbit- mouth Sucker. Pea-lip Sucker. Cut-lips. Split-mouth. Upper lip plicate, much prolonged ; lower reduced to two separate elongate, papillose lobes, the split between them reaching the dentary bones, which have a horny sheath; lower lip separated from upper by a deep fissure at angle; skin of cheeks sheathing this fissure; body rather slender, much as in M. cervinum; oper- cle small; head very small, conical; dorsal low. Color pale, lower fins slightly reddish. Plead 5; depth 4 §. D. 12. Scales 5-45-5. L. 18. Wabash R. (Evermann), Scioto R., Clinch R., Chicka- mauga R., and White R., Ark.; most common in the Ozark Mountains; a most singular fish. (Lat., torn.) Family XXVI. CYPRINIDiE. (The Minnows.) Head naked, body usually scaly; margin of upper jaw formed by premaxillaries only; mouth toothless; barbels 2 to 4 (absent in most of our genera and not large in any); lower pharyngeal bones well developed, falciform, nearly parallel with the gill arches, each provided with one to three series of teeth in small number, rarely more than seven on each side ; belly usually rounded, rarely com- pressed, never serrated; gill openings moderate, the membranes joined to the isthmus; no adipose fin; dorsal fin (in American species) short, with less than ten rays ; air-bladder usually large, commonly divided into an anterior and a posterior lobe, rarely wanting; stomach without appendages, appearing as a simple en- largement of the intestines. Fishes of moderate or small size, inhabiting the fresh waters of the Old World and of North America. Genera about 200, species nearly 1,000; excessively abundant where found, both in individ- uals and in species, and from their great uniformity in size, form, and coloration constituting one of the most difficult groups in zoology in which to distinguish species. Ours are mostly of smaller size than those of the Old World, several of the larger European types being represented in America by Catostomoid forms. Our largest eastern species, Semotilus bullaris, rarely attains a weight of three or four pounds, and a length of nearly eighteen inches. The smallest species of Nolropis scarcely reach a length of two inches. The spring or breeding dress of the male fishes is often peculiar. The top of the head, and often the fins, snout, or other portions of the body, are covered with small tubercles, outgrowths from the 450 TELEOSTEI : EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. epidermis. The fins and other parts are often charged with pig- ment, the usual color being red, but sometimes satin-white, yellow- ish, or black. Note. — Young Cyprinidai are usually more slender than adults of the same species, and the eye is always much larger; they also frequently show a black lateral stripe and caudal spot, which the adults may not possess. In the following descriptions, the rudimentary raj's of dorsal and anal are not counted. The fins and scales are often, especially in specimens living in small brooks, covered with round black specks, parasitic plants. These should not be mistaken for true color-markings. No progress can be made in the study of these fish without careful attention to the teeth, as the genera are largely based on dental characters. The pharyngeal bones in the smaller species can be removed by inserting a pin (or, better, a small hook) through the gill opening, under the shoulder girdle. The teeth should be carefully cleaned with a tooth-brush, or, better, a jet of water, and when dry may be examined by any small lens. In most cases a principal row of four or five larger teeth will be found, in front of which is a set of one or two smaller ones. The two sides are usually, but not always, symmetrical. Thus, “teeth 2, 4-5, 1,” indicate two rows of teeth on each side, on the one side four in the principal row and two in the lesser, on the other side five in the main row and one in the other. “Teeth 4-4” indi- cates a single row of four on each pharyngeal bone, and so on. In the Leuciscine genera, these teeth, or the principal ones, are “ rapta- torial,” that is, hooked inward at the tips. A grinding or masticatory surfaoe is an excavated space or groove, usually at the base of the hook. Sometimes the grinding surface is very narrow and confined to one or two teeth. Some- times a bevelled or flattened edge looks so much like a grinding surface as to mislead a superficial observer. In some cases, the edge of the tooth is crenate or serrate. Besides the native species here mentioned, representatives of two other genera have been introduced from Europe, and have become inhabitants of some eastern streams. These are Cyprinus Linnceus, and Carassius Nilsson. The first is distinguished by the very long dorsal, which, like the anal, is pre- ceded by a strong spine, serrated behind. About the mouth are four long barbels, and the teeth are molar, 1, 3-3, 1. This genus is represented by the Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). The carp is normally covered with large scales. In domestication, however, variations have arisen, prominent ones being the “ Leather Carp,” naked, and the “Mirror Carp,” with a few series of very large scales. Carassius Nilsson differs from Cyprinus, chiefly in the absence of barbels, and in having the teeth compressed, 4-4. The Gold-fish (Carassius auratus L.) is originally olivaceous, but only the orange-red variety is valued for aquaria. Both Carassius and Cyprinus are native in China. a. Air-bladder surrounded by many convolutions of the very long alimentary canal, which is 6 to 9 times the length of the body. (CampostomincB.) b. Teeth 4-4, or 1, 4—4, 0, with oblique grinding surface and slight hook; peritoneum black (as usual in herbivorous fishes). Campostoma, 49. aa. Air-bladder wholly above (dorsal) of the alimentary canal. c. Alimentar}' canal elongate, more than twice length of body; teeth one- rowed, the grinding surface well developed, the hook usually slight or wanting ; peritoneum usually black. Species chiefly herbivorous. ( Chondrostominai.)CYPRINID^E. — XXVI. 51 d. Teeth 5-5 or 4-5; dorsal inserted behind ventrals; scales very small; anal short. e. Pseudobranchise none; lower jaw thin, with sharp, hard edge; upper jaw protractile, with fleshy covering; lateral line complete; body elongate, subterete.........................Oxygeneum, 50. ee. Pseudobranchiae present; lips thin, normal; upper jaw protractile; lateral line incomplete....................Chrosomus, 51. dd. Teeth 4-4; pseudobranchiae present; dorsal over ventrals; scales rather large. f First (rudimentary) ray of D. slender, firmly attached to the first de- veloped ray; jaws sharp-edged, the lower with a slight projection in front; scales before D. large (less than 15). Hybognathus, 52. ff. 1 First (rudimentary) ray of D. well developed, bluntish', separated from the first developed ray, to which it is joined by membrane (this character never conspicuous except in adult males; often ob- scure in young); scales before D. small (more than 20.) Pimephales, 53. cc. Alimentary canal short, less than twice length of body; teeth hooked, the .grinding surface, if present, narrow and rudimentary; peritoneum usually pale ; species mostly carnivorous. g. Dentary bones parallel, united for their whole length (the lower jaw reduced to a tongue-like projection, which has a fleshy lobe on each side. (Exoglossince.) h. Premaxillaries not protractile; upper lip thickened; scales moder- ate ; teeth 1, 4-4, 1, without grinding surface. Exoglossum, 54. gg. Dentary bones broadly arched, as usual among fishes, and united only at the symphysis. (Leuciscince.) i. Abdomen behind V. not compressed to an edge, the scales passing over it; anal basis general!}' short (the rays 7 to 12). j. Teeth in the main row, 4-4. Jc. Maxillary without traces of barbel. x. [Premaxillaries protractile.] 1. Lower lip thin or obsolete (except in one or two species), not developed as a fleshy lobe on each side. m. Mandible, interopercle, and suborbital not evidently cavernous. n. 1 First (rudimentary) ray of D. enlarged and bluntish, sepa- rated from the first developed ray by membrane (as in Pime- phales), this most evident in <3 ; scales before D. small, about 28; teeth 4-4; [black blotch on front of dorsal and one at base of caudal always present.] . . Cliola, 55. tin. First (rudimentary) ray of D. small, closely joined to the first developed ray; teeth 2, 1 or 0, 4-4, 2, 1 or 0; scales rather large; scales before D. large or small (12 to 30). Notropis, 56. mm. Mandible, interopercle, and suborbital with conspicuous externally visible cavernous areas (like silvery cross- bars); teeth 1, 4-4, 0; scales large; D. above V. Ericymba, 57. U, Lower lip developed as a fleshy lobe on each side; teeth 4-4, without grinding surface; D. before Y.; isthmus very broad. Phenacobius, 58. 1 This character is more or less obscure in females and young examples-52 TELEOSTEI: EVENTOGNATHI.--XII. xx. [Premaxillaries not protractile; scales very small; barbei present, but minute]............Khinici-ithys, 59. kk. Maxillary with a small barbel at its extremity (rarely obsolete). n. Premaxillaries not protractile; teetli 2, 4-4, 2; scales small; dorsal behind ventrals..............Rhinichthys, 59. nn. Premaxillaries protractile. o. Teeth 4-4, or 1, 4-4,1, or 1, 4-4, 0; scales not very small. Hybopsis, 60. oo. Teeth, 2, 4-4, 2 or 1. p. Head transversely convex above; teeth without grinding surface.............................Couesius, 61. pp. Head flattened above; teeth with grinding surface; scales large....................Platygobio, 62. jj. Teeth in the main row 5-5 or 4-5. q. Maxillary with a minute barbel placed before its tip; premax- illaries protractile; teeth, 2, 4-5, 2, without grinding surface^ caudal fin symmetrical..................Semotilus, 63. qq. Maxillary without barbel; premaxillaries protractile; anal basis short. r. Teeth two-rowed, 2, 4-5, 2, or 2/ 5-5, 2, strongly hooked; scales moderate or small.............Piioxinus, 64. [As above, the head broad and bluntish; the barbel so minute as to be indistinguishable, in the young of Semotilus, 63.] rr. Teeth one-rowed, 5-5, with serrate edges; mouth very small, terminal; D. inserted over V. . . . Opsopceodus, 65. ii. Abdomen behind V., compressed to an edge, the scales not crossing it; anal basis elongate (the rays 12 to 18); teeth 5-5, with grind- ing surface and serrate edges; gill rakers rather long; no bar- bels; D. inserted behind V....................Notemigokus, 66. 49. CAMPOSTOMA Agassiz, (/ca/nri), curve ; oro/ta, mouth.) 87. C. anomalum (Rafinesque). Stone Lugger. Stone Roller. Brownish, with a brassy lustre above, the scales mot- tled; a black vertical bar behind opercle; iris orange; D. and A. each with a dusky cross-bar about half-way up, rest of the fin in spring £ orange; in spring with many rounded tuber- cles on head and body; young mottled brownish, the fins plain ; scales crowded forward; intestinal canal six to nine times the total length of the body, its numerous convolutions passing above and around the air-bladder, an arrangement found in Camposlomci alone among all the vertebrates. D. 8; A. 7. Scales 7-53-8. Teeth 4-4. L. 4 to 8. W. N. Y. to Texas, and Tenn. in small streams, every- where abundant; one of the most curious of American fishes. Very variable. 50. OXYGENEUM Forbes. (o£dr, sharp ; yivos, chin.) 88. O. pulverulentum Forbes. Form of Moxostoma: head small, conical; mouth large, terminal; gill rakers slender; eye 4 in head; 31 scales before dorsal; breast scaly. Color pale, theCYPRINIDA5. — XXVI. 53 back and sides dusted with dark specks. Head 4j; depth 5. D. high, 8. A. 7 Lat. 1. 63. L. 2£. Illinois R. (Lat., dusted). 51. CHROSOMUS Rafinesque. (xptis, color; abipa, body.) 89. C. erythrogaster Rafinesque. Red-bellied Minnow. Brownish olive, with black spots on the back, a blackish band from above eye, straight to the tail, sometimes breaking up in spots be- hind ; another below, broader, running through eye, decurved along the lateral line, ending in a black spot at base of C.; belly and space between bands bright silvery, brilliant scarlet red in spring males, as are the bases of the vertical fins; females ob- scurely marked. D. 8 ; A. 9. Scales 16-85-10. L. 2^. Penn, to Dakota and Tenn., abundant in small clear streams; one of the most beautiful of our fishes ; in high coloration the fins are bright yellow. It is the most desirable of all our minnows for aquarium purposes, being hardy, graceful, and gaily colored. (JpvBpos, red; yaarfjp, belly.) 52. HYBOGNATHUS Agassiz. (vj3os, gibbous ; yvddos, jaw.) ;. Teetli comparatively long, and scarcely hooked; silvery species. (Hybo- gnathus.) b. Suborbitals broad, the anterior, about twice as long as deep. c. Mouth narrow, its cleft not reaching nearly to eye; lower jaw shorter than upper, obtuse at tip. 90. H. nuchalis Agassiz. Body rather slender; head rather short, the profile evenly curved ; eye moderate, 4 in head ; lateral line decurved; 13 large scales in front of D.; intestine 7 to 10 times length of body. Silvery green, sides bright silvery, with an underlying plumbeous shade; fins all pale. Head 4| to 5; depth 4J-. D. 8, A. 7. Scales 5-38—4. L. 4 to 9. N. J. to S. C., Dakota, and Texas, common near large rivers. Variable; notable varieties are placita Girard, Arkansas and Missouri rivers, the eye smaller, 5 in head, the snout depressed and blunt, with very small mouth; var. regia Girard, Potomac River, larger (7 inches long), with deeper body and larger eye, 3f in head. (Lat., pertaining to the nape.) cc. Mouth wide, its cleft reaching about to eye; jaws subequal, the lower acutish at tip. 91. H. argyritis Girard. Silvery. Upper Missouri and Red R. of North. (Lat., silvery.) aa. Teeth comparatively short, distinctly hooked; suborbitals very narrow; plumbeous species. (Dionda Girard.) 92. H. nubila (Forbes). Maxillary 3-| in head ; snout short, not very blunt; eye 3 in head ; 12 scales before D. Head 4^-; depth 4£. Scales 5-37-3. Olivaceous with plumbeous or dusky lateral54 TELEOSTEI : EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. band; no caudal spot; fins mostly red. L. 2J. N. III. to Ozark region. (Lat., dusky.) 53. PIMEPH ALES Rafinesque. (jripeAijs, fat; se(pa\rj, head.) a. Lateral liue wanting or more or less imperfect. (Pimcphales.) 93. P. promelas Rafinesque. Body more or less short and deep ; head short, blunt, almost globular in adult $ ; V. reaching beyond front of A.; scales before D. about 27. Olivaceous, a black bar across middle of D. (faint in young) ; a dark shade along cau- dal peduncle ; adult £ dusky, the head jet-black, with large tuber- cles on snout. Head 4 ; depth 4. D. I. 7. A. 7. Scales 7-47-6. L. 2^. L. Champlain to Dakota and Texas, abundant in sluggish brooks. Very variable ; S. W. specimens (var. confertus Girard) have the lateral line almost complete, (npo, before; pe\ar, black.) aa. Lateral line complete. (Ilyborhynchus Agassiz.) 94. P. notatus (Rafinesque). Body rather elongate; head rather long, the snout abruptly decurved; mouth horizontal, small; Y. not to vent; scales before D. small, crowded, about 23. Color olivaceous, little silvery, sides bluish; a dusky shade toward base of D.; a black blotch on front of D., wanting in young; head wholly black in spring males, the snout with 14 large tubercles. Head 4^; depth 5. D. I. 8. A. 7. Scales 6-45-4. L. 4. Quebec to Del., Miss., and Kansas, very abundant, variable. (Lat., marked.) 54. EXOGLOSSUM Rafinesque. (e|&>, outside; y\iixrtra, tongue.) 95. E. maxillingua (Le Sueur). Cut-lips. Stone-toter. Body rather stout; eye small; head large, with tumid cheeks; lower jaw included. Color dusky, a blackish bar behind head; a dusky shade at base C.; fins plain. Head 4 ; depth 4£. D. 8. A. 7. Scales 8-53-5. L. 6. Hudson R. to Va., abundant. A curious fish, remarkably distinguished from all other Cyprinirlce by its 3-lobed lower jaw. (Lat. maxilla, jaw; lingua, tongue.) 55. CLIOLA Girard. (A coined name.) 96. C. vigilax (Baird & Girard). Bull-head Minnow. Body rather stout, compressed, with deep tail; head heavy, blunt; snout short, decurved; mouth terminal, slightly oblique; eye 3£ in head; teeth strongly hooked; scales in front of D. small, crowded. Pale olivaceous, with a plumbeous lateral band, always ending in a black spot at base of C.; a conspicuous black spot on middle of front of D. Head 4^-; depth 4. D. I. 8. A. 7. Scales 8-42-6; 28 scales before dorsal. L. 3. Ind. to Miss, and Texas, very abundant. Resembles Pimepliales notatus, but distinguished by the short in- testine, larger mouth, paler coloration, with more definite markings.CYPRINIDdS. — XXVI. 55 (Hybopsis tuditanus Cope; Alburnops (aurocephalus Hay.) (Lat., ■watchful.) 56. NOTROPIS Rafinesque. (American Minnows.) (Minnilus Rafinesque, etc,, etc.) (As now understood, this genus contains upwards of a hundred species of small Cyprinoids, all of them confined to the waters of E. N. A. They are feeble fishes, of rather low organization, none of them of any value as food to man, but of great importance as food for the larger predatory fishes. The species are highly vari- able, readily affected by surrounding conditions, while the per- manently distinctive characters are few. The identification of species in this group is therefore very difficult, and in the case of young specimens often impossible. The following analysis must be used with caution, as all characters are subject to occasional or individual variations.) (vutos, back; rpoVtr, keel; but the back is not keeled. Rafinesque’s types had been shrivelled by drying.) a. Teeth 4, 4, or 1, 4-4, 0, or 1, 4-4, 1 (sometimes 1, 4-4, 2 in N. hudsonius). b. Scales not closely imbricated, not notably deeper than long; D. inserted nearly over V.; A. short, its rays 7 or 8. c. Teeth 4-4, the grinding surface more or less developed. d. Lateral line usually incomplete; scales before D. large, 13 in num- ber. (Bemitremia Cope.) e. Snout very obtuse; lower jaw not projecting. 97. N. bifrenatus (Cope). Body slender, the tail contracted ; upper lip on level of lower part of pupil; jaws subequal, eye large, 3 in head; lateral line very short. Straw-color, with jet-black lateral band, bordered with orange on snout. Head 4£; depth i\. D. 8. A. 7. Scales 5-36-3. L. 2. Mass, to Md. (Lat., two- bridled.) 98. N. anogenua Forbes. Very similar to N. heterodon, but with lateral line usually complete; the mouth very small and very oblique, the lower jaw included, the upper lip above level of pupil; snout short, blunt. Dusky, a very distinct lateral band and a black spot at base of C.; a black speck on each pore of lateral line. Head depth 4f. A. 7. Lat. 1. 34 to 37. L. 1£. W. N. Y. (Ithaca, Meek) to 111. (a, without; yevvs, chin.) ee. Snout pointed; lower jaw projecting. 99. N. heterodon Cope. Body rather stout; eye 3 in head; lateral line usually developed about half-way, sometimes nearly per- fect. Olive, sides with dusky plumbeous band, fainter than in preceding. Head 4 ; depth 4. A. 8. Scales 5-36-3. L. 2^. Teeth crenate. W. N. Y. to Kans.; common. (Other specimens from Ind. and 111. have lateral line complete, and teeth 2, 4-4, 2.56 TELEOSTEI': EVENTOGNATHI.— XII. Whether a variety or a distinct species is not certainly known.1) (erepos, different; oSovt, tooth.) dd. Lateral line complete. (Miniellus Jordan.) f. Lips thin, not fleshy ; scales before D. large, in 13 to 17 rows. g. Body rather elongate, the depth less than J the length. 100. N. proone (Cope). Slender, with the tail long; snout blunt; mouth inferior, small; 13 scales before D. ; eye large. Oli- vaceous, a dark lateral band. Head 4|; depth Scales 5-32-3. A. 7. L. 2If. W. N. Y. to Md. (irpoKvr), a kind of swallow.) 101. N. fretensis (Cope). Slender, compressed; mouth oblique; eye 3^ in head; 17 scales before D.; lateral line decurved. Olive, a plumbeous lateral shade and dark spot at base C. Head 4; depth 5. A. 8. Scales 6-35-3. L. Great Lake region (un- known to me.) (Lat., inhabiting straits, i. e. Detroit R.) 102. N. speotrunoulus (Cope). Body elongate, head large and broad; eye 3 in head; snout thick; mouth terminal, oblique ; pre- maxillaries in front on level of middle of pupil; 15 scales before D. Olivaceous, dark above, a plumbeous lateral band and distinct black caudal spot; £ with fins orange. Head 4; depth 5£. A. 9. Lat. 1. 37. L. 3. Tenn. R. (Lat., a little image.) 103. N. deliciosua (Girard). Body stoutish, little compressed; head rather broad, the mouth small, inferior, horizontal; snout obtuse; eye large, 3 in head; 12 to 15 scales before D. Pale olivaceous, sides usually pale; sometimes with a dusky stripe, but no dark C. spot. Head 4; depth 5. L. 2^. Great Lakes to Va. and Texas; an insignificant little fish. Variable, running into several varieties. Var. deliciosus, Mo. and S. W., lat. 1. 32 to 35; var. slramineus Cope, Miss. Valley, lat. 1. 34 to 38 (5-36-4) ; var. longiceps Cope, Va., lat. 1. 33 to 36 ; a distinct lateral stripe, snout longer and fins higher; var. volucella Cope, Mich., snout longer; fins longer; P. reaching V. gg. Body rather stout, the depth more than J the length. 104. N. topeka Gilbert. Body compressed, stout; snout blunt; mouth small, terminal, oblique; eye 4^ in head; 14 scales before D; lateral line anteriorly decurved. Olivaceous, a dusky lateral streak, ending in a small caudal spot; males with sides and fins bright red. Head 4; depth 3f. A. 7. Scales 5-35-4. L. 2f. W. Iowa to Kans. ff. Lips thick, fleshy. 105. N. phenacobius Forbes. Mouth small, inferior; body short and deep; snout long; eye very large, 3^ in head; breast naked; fins low. Head 4; depth 3J. A. 8. Lat. 1. 35. L. 1 See Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, p. 207.CYPRINID2E. — XXVI. 57 Silvery, sides with some black specks. Illinois R. (ProDably not a Notropis.) cc. Teeth 1, 4-4, 0; 1, 4-4, 1; or 1, 4-4, 2; the grinding surface more or less developed. h. Head comparatively large, 3| to about 4 in length ; teeth 1, 4-4, I ; species of small size. (Alburnops Girard.) i. Eye moderate, 4 in head in adult. 10G. N. gilberti Jordan & Meek. Slender, with long tail; head long, flattish above; snout moderate; mouth rather large, little oblique, the lower jaw included. Scales before D. 17 ; D. slightly behind V. Greenish, sides with dusky streak and dark specks. Head 4 ; depth 5. A. 9. Scales 5-35—4. L. 2J. Iowa and Mo. (To Prof. Charles Henry Gilbert.) it. Eye very large, 2) to 3 in head. 107. N. boops Gilbert. Body compressed, the back elevated; tail slender; snout short, not blunt; mouth terminal, very oblique, lower jaw not included; maxillary to front of eye; D. over V.; 12 scales before dorsal. Head 3f; depth A, 7. Scales 5-36-2. Teeth 1, 4-4, 1, with deep, grinding surface, the inner edge strongly crenate. L. 3. Olivaceous sides with dusky streak and dark specks. S. Ind. to Iowa and Ark., common S. W. in cold streams. (/3o0f, bull; oirjr, eye.) N. scabriceps Jordan & Gilbert, not of Cope.) hh. Head short, bluntish, about 5 in length in adult; species of large size and silvery coloration. (Budsonius Girard.) 108. N. hudsonius (De Witt Clinton). Spawn-Eater. “Smelt.” Body elongate, moderately compressed; head short, with blunt snout; eye very large, 3 to 3^ in head; mouth small, subinferior; lateral line slightly decurved; 12 to 18 scales before dorsal; fins rather small. Pale olive, young always with a round black spot at base of caudal; sometimes a dark lateral band; fins un- marked. Head 4^ to 5; depth 4^ to 5. D. 8. A. 8. Scales 5-39-4. Teeth variable, sometimes 2 in one of lesser rows, sometimes none of them with grinding surface. L. 10. Lake Superior to N.Y., and S. in coastwise streams to Ga., abundant and very variable. N. specimens usually have teeth 2, 4-4, 1. Southern examples, Ya. to Ga. (var. amarus Girard), usually have teeth 1, 4-4, 1 or 0. The species seldom ascends small streams. (Prom Hudson R.) bb. Scales very closely imbricated along sides of body, most of them deeper than long ; body usually compressed. j. Pharyngeal teeth usually 4-4, their edges serrate. (Montana Girard.) 109. N. lutrensia (Baird & Girard). Adult with the body deep, strongly compressed, the back arched; young variously elon- gate or elliptical; head short, blunt; mouth moderate, oblique, the lower jaw included; eye small, about 4 in head ; lateral line strongly58 TELEOSTEI : EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. decurved; 13 to 15 scales before D. steel-blue, profusely tuberculate, belly and fins blood-red; a violet and a crimson cres- cent behind shoulder; 9 plain; fins unspotted. Head 3J; depth 2| (adult) to 4 (young). A. 8. Scales 6-35-2. Teeth sometimes 1, 4-4, 1. L. 3. S. 111. to Rio Grande, very abundant S. W.; a very brilliant and very variable little fish. (Lat. lutra, otter; first known from Otter Creek, Ark.) jj. Pharyngeal teeth 1, 4-4,1, their edges often crenate ; ours with narrow grinding surface; adult males with a large black blotch on upper pos- terior rays of D. (Cyprintllu1 Girard.) x. Anal short, its rays 8 or 9 ; D. inserted just behind V.; mr, light; yivvs, cheek.) 127. N. telescopus (Cope). Similar to preceding, the D. farther forward, not much behind V., midway between snout and C.; eye very large, in head ; mouth oblique, the jaws subequal; scales above dark-edged. Head i\\ depth 5. A. 10. Scales 5-38-3. L. 3|. Tenn. R. (jqkccrKonos, far-seeing.) 128. N. dilectus (Girard). Body moderately elongate, the back scarcely elevated, the tail slender; head longer than in related spe- cies, rather pointed; mouth rather large, oblique, the jaws subequal; eye moderate, 4 in head. Olivaceous, sides silvery ; vertebral line faint. Head 4^; depth 4f. A. 10. L. 2f. Ohio to Neb. and Ark. Common. Much smaller than N. atherinoides, with longer head. (Alburnellus rubrifrons and percobromus Cope.) (Lat., delightful.) 129. N. atherinoides (Rafinesque). Body comparatively elon- gate, compressed, the back not elevated ; head short, blunt; mouth moderate, very oblique, maxillary reaching front of eye ; eye large, 1 The species of this group are extremely closely related, and in some cases scarcely distinguishable.62 TELEOSTEI: EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. 3J in head, about equal to snout; fins low; dorsal well behind ven- trals ; lateral line decurved. Greenish, pale above; sides silvery ; a dark vertebral line. Head 4J; depth 5^. A. 11. Scales 5-38-3. L. 5. Great Lakes to Tenn., abundant in lakes and rapids in rivers. Variable. (Alburnus rubellus Agassiz.) (Minnilus dine- mus Raf., with shorter snout and smaller eye, is probably the same, as also Alburnellus jaculus Cope; the latter, from Michigan and S., is slenderer, depth 6 in length.) (Like Atherina.) 130. N. arge (Cope). Eye very large, longer than snout, 3 in head; lateral line nearly straight, head large, the snout not very blunt; mouth large, the chin projecting. Pale, the silver band on sides bounded above by a blackish line; a dark vertebral streak. Head4j; depth G. A. 11. Scales 5-33-3. L. 3|. Wabash Val- ley (Evermann) and S. Mich.; slenderer than N. atlierinoides, with much larger eye, but very likely a variety, (dpyijf, shining white.) it. Fins all small, the short V. not reaching vent, and barely to middle of D. 131. N. micropteryx (Cope). Very slender, compressed; head rather pointed; mouth large, oblique, the jaws subequal; eye mod- erate, 3^ in head; lateral line decurved; D. inserted well behind V. Pale olive ; sides bright silvery, base of C. dusky. Head ; depth 5J. A. 10. Scales 6-39-2. L. 2f. Ozark region, E. to E. N. C., in mountain streams. (puKpos, small; zrr/pu|, fin.) 57. ERICYMBA Cope. (epi, an intensive particle; Kvni3t], cavity.) 132. E. buccata (Cope). Body rather elongate, little com- pressed, head long, with broad, prominent snout; mouth small, subinferior, the lower jaw shorter. Suborbitals broad, silvery, crossed by conspicuous translucent or silvery mucous channels, as are also the interopercle and lower jaw; 15 scales before D.; lat- eral line straightish; eye large, 4 in head. Olivaceous, sides silvery; sexes alike. Head 4; depth 5. D. 8. A, 8. Scales 5-33-3. L. 4. Mich, to Kans. and W. Fla., abundant in small, clear brooks, remarkably distinguished by the structure of the bones of the head. (Lat., big-jawed.) 58. FHENACOBIUS Cope. (0tva|, deceptive; /3i'or, life.) a. Scales rather large, 40 to 52. b. Breast scaly. 133. P. teretulus (Cope). Body slender, subterete; snout thick, decurved; mouth small; eye large, high up, 3j^ in head. Yellowish, darker above, a plumbeous lateral band. Head 4f. depth 4|. D. 8. A. 7. Scales 6-43-5. L. 3J. W. Va. (Lat., terete.)CYPKLNID/E. — XX YL 63 16. Breast naked. 134. P. mirabilis (Girard). Body rather slender, the caudal peduncle short; snout blunt, prominent; eye 4 in head. Bale greenish, a silvery lateral band and a conspicuous black spot at base of C. Head 4^; depth 4^. A. 7. Scales 6-50-5; lateral line varying from 43 (var. scopifer Cope) to 52. L. 4. 111. R. to X. Texas, abundant; sexes similar. (Lat., wonderful.) aa. Scales small, about 60 in lateral line; breast naked. 135. P. uranops Cope. Body very slender; tail long; head long, flattish above; snout broad, blunt; mouth inferior, larger than in other species; eye large, 3J in head, placed high and be- hind middle of head; 24 scales before D. Head 4-J; depth 6. A. 7. Scales 7-60-6. L. 4. Tenn. R. (olpavos, sky; eye.) 59. RHINICHTHYS Agassiz, (plv, snout; i\6is, fish.) a. Snout long and prominent, projecting notably beyond the mouth, about twice length of eye in adult. 136. R. cataractae (Cuv. & Yah). Long-nosed Dace. Body elongate, subterete; eye nearly median, 5 in head; barbel evident; P. enlarged in males. Dusky olive, irregularly mottled; no dis- tinct lateral band; a dusky spot on opercle; male with lips, cheeks, and lower fins crimson in spring. Head 4-J-; depth 5 jj. D. 8. A. 7. Scales 14-65-8. L. 6. Mass, to Va. and Montana, in clear moun- tain streams. Larger than the next and with longer snout. (Leu- ciscus nasutus Ayres.) (Lat., of the cataract; first taken at Niagara.) aa. Snout moderate, projecting little beyond the small mouth; its length 11 times eye. 137. R. atronasus (Mitchill). Black-nosed Dace. Body moderately elongate; head rather large; eye small, 4-1 in head; fins small; barbel minute, sometimes obsolete. Blackish, the scales mottled above; a black or brown lateral band, bordered above and below by pale; spring g with this hand and lower fins crimson, the color changing to orange in summer. Head 4; depth i\. D. 7. A. 7. Scales 4-63-8. L. 3. Maine to Iowa and Ala., very abundant in all clear brooks. Variable. (Lat. ater, black; nasus, nose.) 60. HYBOPSIS Agassiz. (Nncomis Girard; Ceratichthys Baird.) (i/3ds, gibbous ; ctyir, face.) a. Species of moderate or small size, the mouth inferior, horizontal. Color silvery; preorbital broad; sexes more or less alike. (Hybopsis.) 6. Eye moderate or small, 3) to 5 in head; barbel very long (rarely dupli- cated); lower lip rather thick; D. usually more or less behind Y.; small, slender species, c. Teeth 4-4. d. Dorsal fin without black blotch; scales large.64 TELEOSTEI. — EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. e, Lower lobe of C. chiefly black; upper lobe pale; color pale, un- spotted. 138. H. gelidus (Girard). Very slender; snout long, thick, blunt, overhanging the rather large mouth; barbel as long as eye; eye 4^ in head; fins all high; P. as long as head; C. deeply forked. Head 4; depth 5^. A. 7. Lat. 1. 44. L. 2. Missouri River, abun- dant in the river channels but not ascending brooks; a singular little fish. (Lat., frigid.) ee. Lower lobe of C. pale, like the upper; body dusted with dark specks. 139. H. hyostomus (Gilbert). Body and head very slender; snout long, acute, projecting beyond mouth for half its length; mouth short, wide, inferior; eye 3} in head; barbel long; P.large, other fins small; 13 scales before D. Head 4; depth 5|. A. 8. Lat. 1. 37. L. 2^. Silvery, dusted with dark specks. Ind. to Iowa. (Similar species are Ii. aestivalis Girard, Ark. to Mexico, still more slender, with longer snout and much smaller eye, 4 in head, and H. letranemus Gilbert, Kansas, nearly like H. aestivalis, but with two barbels on each side.) (vs, hog; ord/ra, mouth.) dd. Dorsal fin with a large black blotch on its last rays; scales small. 140. H. monachus (Cope). Body slender; head long and slender; eye i\ in head; 24 scales before D. Olivaceous, sides silvery; a black spot at base of C.; no lateral band; scales not speckled. Head 4; depth 5J. A. 8. Scales 8-56—4. L. 4. Tenn. R. (Lat., solitary.) ib. Eyes very large, 2J to 3 in head; barbels conspicuous; D. inserted more or less before V.; body not conspicuously speckled. f. Teeth 4-4; sides with dark blotches. 141. H. dissimilis (Kirtland). Body very long and slender; head long, the snout blunt at tip, projecting beyond the small mouth ; eye 2f in head ; P. long; 22 scales before D. Olivaceous, with dusky lateral band, along which are several large round dusky spots, the most distinct at base of C. Head 4-|; depth 5^. D. 8. A. 7. Scales 6-47-5. L. 5. Lake Erie to Ivy. and Iowa. (Lat., unlike.) ff. Teeth, 1, 4-4,1 or 0. g. Sides with a dark lateral band overlaid by silvery. 142. H. amblops (Rafinesque). Body slender, the head large, fiattish above; eye longer than snout, 3 in head ; mouth small ; snout bluntly decurved ; 16 scales before D. Greenish; sides with a blackish or plumbeous band extending around snout, overlaid by silvery. Head 4 ; depth 5. Scales 5-38-4. L. 4. Ohio Valley to Ala., common. Smaller than the next, and somewhat different in color. (dp/SXur, blunt; dnjr, face.)CYPKINIDJ5. — XXVI. 65 gg. Sides bright silvery, without dusky shade. 143. H. storerianus (Kirtland). Body rather elongate; back elevated; tail long. Head short, broad between eyes; eye equal to snout, three in head; preorbital broad, conspicuous, silvery; snout abruptly decurved, its tip fleshy; lateral line decurved ; fins high. Light olive, sides brightly silvery; fins all pale. Head 4J; depth 4. D. 8. A. 8. Scales 5-42-4. L. 4 to 8. Ohio to Neb. and Tenn., abundant in larger streams. (Ceratichlhys lucens Jordan.) (To David Humphreys Storer, author of Fishes of Mass.) aa. Species of large size, little silvery, the mouth nearly terminal; D. slightly behind V. (Nocomis Girard.) 144. H. kentuckiensis (Rafinesque). Horny Head. River Chub. Jerker. Robust; head large, broad above, the snout long, bluntish; mouth large, little oblique, the lower jaw shorter; eye small; suborbitals narrow; barbel evident; scales not crowded forwards, 18 before D. Bluish olive, with coppery shades ; a dark bar behind opercle; fins pale orange, unspotted; young with a black spot at base C. Adult males in spring with a much swollen crest and large tubercles; a round crimson spot on each side of head. Head 4; depth 4^. D. 8. A 7. Scales 6-41-4. Teeth 4-4 or 1, 4-4, 1. L. 10. Penn, to Dakota and Ala., very abundant in the rivers, rarely in small brooks ; variable. (Ceraticlithys bigut- talus Kirtland.) 61. COUESIUS Jordan. (To Dr. Elliott Coues.) a. Scales small, about 68 in the lateral line. 145. C. plumbeus (Agassiz). Body rather elongate; head small; snout bluntish; mouth rather small, terminal; eye 4 in head; D. above V. Dusky, a plumbeous lateral band, fins plain. Head 5; depth 5. D. 8. A. 7. Scales 11-68-7. L. 6. Teeth usually 2, 4-4, 2. N. N. Y. (Matlier) to L. Superior, chiefly in or near cold lakeB. (Lat., leaden.) aa. Scales larger, about 60 in the lateral line. 146. C. dissimilis (Girard). Body more robust, with lateral line more decurved. Mouth oblique, subterminal, resembling that of Semolilus. Dusky. Head 4^; depth 4J. Lat. 1. 60. L. 6. Minn, to Montana. 62. PLATYGOBIO Gill. (wXarus, broad; Lat. gobio, gudgeon.) 147. P. gracilis (Richardson). Flat-hf.aded Chub. Body elongate; head short, small, very broad and depressed above, the interorbital area 2 in head; mouth large, oblique; eye small, 6 in head; fins large; 23 scales before D. Very pale, sides silvery, 566 TELEOSTEI : EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. young with dusky lateral shade. Head ; depth 4J. D. 8. A. 8. Scales 6-50-5. L. 12. Missouri Basin, abundant in river chan- nels, N. to Saskatchewan, S. to Cairo, 111. (Lat., slender.) 63. SEMOTIIiTJS Rafinesque. (ar/pa, banner; the remainder, according to Rafinesque, means “ spotted.”) a. Scales scarcely crowded anteriorly, about 8-45-5; no black spot at base of dorsal in front. 148. S. bullaris (Rafinesque). Fall-fish. Chub. Roach. D. inserted midway between nostril and base of C.; barbel very small; eye 4-| in head; 22 scales before D. Bluish above, sides silvery; fins plain. Head 4; depth 4. D. 8. A. 8. L. 18. Quebec to Va., abundant E., the largest of the Cyprinidoe E. of the Rocky Mts. On the Pacific slope are species (Ptychocheilus, Mylopharo- don, etc.) 5 to 6 feet in length. “ The chub is a soft fish; it tastes like brown-paper salted.” (Thoreau.) (Lat., bulla, bubble.) aa. Scales small, crowded anteriorly, about 10-54-7; lat. 1.52 to 65; a round- ish black spot at base of D. in front. 149. S. atromaculatus (Mitchill). IIobned Dace. Creek Chub. D. inserted midway between pupil and base C.; body robust; head large and broad; barbel minute, not evident in the young; mouth large, lower jaw included ; eye small; 30 scales be- fore D. Dusky, little silvery, a dark bar at shoulder; young with dark lateral band; more or less red and with coarse tubercles in spring. Head 3f; depth 4. D. 7. A. 8. L. 12, or less. W. Mass, to Dakota, Va. and La., very abundant, especially in small clear brooks. Variable. (Semotilus corporalis of authors, not of Mitchill.) (Lat. ater, black; maculatus, spotted.) 64. PHOXINTTS Agassiz. Dace. (As here understood, a very large genus, one of the largest in Ichthyology, comprising a great number of species, mostly of Europe, Asia, and Western North America, distinguished from Notropis, in general by the better developed dentition ; the teeth 2, 4 - 5, 2, or 2, 5 - 5, 2, and by the larger size of the body ; the scales being in general smaller than in Notropis. We here unite Squalius (lat. 1. complete) with Phoxinus (lat. 1. incomplete). When we consider European species only, the two genera appear to be widely separated, but the intergradation is almost perfect when American species are taken into account. (Old name from (pogos, tapering.) ci. Lateral line complete (Squalius Bonaparte). 1. Teeth without grinding surface; caudal peduncle rather slender; anal basis short.CYPKINIDiE. — XXVI. 67 c. Mouth very wide, the lower jaw much projecting, the maxillary reach- ing to below pupil; body elongate, compressed; D. well behind V.; scales quite small; size small. (Clinostomus Girard.) d. Scales veiy small, 63 to 70 in the lateral line. 150. P. elongatus (Kirtland). Body elongate, compressed; head long, pointed; mouth larger than in any other of our Cypri- nidtx. Eye 4 in head; lateral line decurved. Dusky bluish, mottled with paler; a broad black lateral band, the front half of which is bright crimson in spring males. Head 4 ; depth 5. A. 9. Scales 10-70-5. L. 4. Penn, to Minn., chiefly northward, in clear brooks. (Clinostomus proriger Cope.) dd. Scales larger, 48 to 55 in the lateral line. e. Mouth very large, the gape half head, the maxillaries reaching to opposite middle of orbit. 151. P. eator (Jordan & Brayton). Body elliptical, compressed; head very large; eye 4 in head ; lateral line decurved ; 23 scales before D. Dark olive, mottled with darker; sides silvery ; no broad black lateral band; males largely crimson. Head 3f; depth 4J. A. 8. Scales 8-50-5. L. 4. Cumberland and Tenn. Rivers (Lat., devourer.) ee. Mouth smaller, the maxillaries not reaching to opposite middle of eye. f. Body deep, the depth in adult 33 in length. 152. P. vandoisulus (Cuv. & Yah). Head large; eye 3£ in head ; bluish, some scales irregularly blackish; no black lateral band; spring males rose-red, especially anteriorly. Head 3§. A. 8, lat. 1. 53. Ya. to Ga., common. (Fr. vandoise, dace.) ff. Body rather slender, the depth in adult 4). 153. P. funduloides (Girard). Head and mouth smaller than in any of the preceding species. Eye 3 in head. Dusky, a dark lateral band with a pale streak above it; males red below in spring. Head 4J-. A. 8. Scales 9-48-4. Penn, to N. C. (Lat., like Fundulus.) cc. Mouth moderate, terminal, oblique, the chin usually not projecting; premaxillary below level of pupil, the maxillary not reaching pupil. (Tigoma Girard.) g. Anal short, with about 8 rays. 154. P. margaritus (Cope). Body robust, little compressed; head blunt, thick, rounded; mouth small, the maxillary not to eye; eye rather large; lateral line decurved; dorsal behind ventrals. Dusky, sides plumbeous silvery, crimson in spring males. Head 4; depth 4. A. 8. Scales 11-58-8. L. 3. Susquehanna R. A pretty fish, similar to the typical species of Phoxinus in all respects, but the lateral line is complete. (Lat., pearly.)68 TELEOSTEI: EVENTOGNATHI. — XII. aa. Lateral line incomplete. (Phoxinus.) g. Scales very small, 75 to 90 in the lateral line. 155. P. neogaeus Cope. Body robust, little compressed; head very large, broad, with blunt snout; mouth moderate, oblique; the chin projecting, the maxillary beyond front of orbit. Eye 3J in head; dorsal well behind ventrals. Blackish, sides plumbeous with a dusky lateral band ; lower parts crimson in spring males. I lead 3|; depth 4^. A. 8. Scales 18-80-11. L. 3. Miss. Valley, rare; the few specimens known, from Mich., Wis., and Ark. (veor, new; yea, world; this being a near relative of the “ Minnow ” of Europe, P. phoxinus L.). gg. Scales moderate, 40 to 45 in the lateral line. h. Body not very slender, the depth about 4 in length. 156. P. flammeus Jordan & Gilbert. Head rather short, the snout bluntish; mouth small, oblique ; the jaws equal, the maxil- lary to front of eye; lateral line with pores on 14 scales; color of preceding; the males largely scarlet ; dark spot at base of C. Head 4. A. 8. Scales 7-43-5. L. 2^. Tenn. K. (Lat., flaming.) hh. Body slender, the depth 5J in length. 157. P. milnerianus Cope. Mouth larger, the maxillary about to pupil. Color of preceding; a dark spot at base of C. Head 4; eye 3^ in head. A. 8. L. 2 J. Upper Missouri R. (To James W. Milner, of the U. S. Fish Comm.) 65. OPSOPCEODUS Hay. (o^omiea, to feed daintily; oSovs, tooth.) 158. O. emiliae Hay. Body elongate, compressed ; head short, the snout blunt and rounded; mouth very small, terminal, ob- lique, smaller than in any of our Cyprinidce; jaws equal; eye very large, 3 in head; D. behind V.; P. very small; breast naked; 16 scales before D.; lateral line usually incomplete. Yellowish, sides silvery; a dark lateral stripe ; D. with a black blotch on its last rays. Head 4|; depth 4|. D. 9. A. 8. Scales 5-40-3. L. 2J. S. Ind. to Ark. and Miss.; not common. (Trycherodon mega- lops Forbes.) (To Mrs. Emily Hay.) 66. NOTEMIGONUS Kafinesque. (yarns, back ; ryu, half; yavos, angle.) 159. N. c^ry3oleuc&s (Mitchill). Golden Shiner. Bream. Body more or less elongate, much compressed; head short, low, compressed; mouth small, oblique, the maxillary not to eye; eye moderate, or large, 3 to 4 in head ; lateral line much decurved. Greenish above, sides silvery with golden reflections; fins yel- lowish. Sexes similar. Head 4J; depth about 3. D. 8. A. 13IIIODONTIDvE. — XXVII. 69 (12 to 14). Scales 10-51-3. L. 12. Maine to Dakota and Da., everywhere abundant in sluggish or weedy waters. S. E. (N. C. to Ala.) occurs var. bosci (Cuv. & Yal.) with A. longer, about 16 ; the scales larger, 8-43-2, and the lower fins scar- let in males. The two forms intergrade and both are very varia- ble. (Cyprinus americanus L., 1766, not of 1758) (xpvaos, gold; Aevfcor, white.) Order XIII. ISOSPOXDYLI. (The Salmon, Herring, etc.) This order contains a great variety of soft-rayed fishes, which agree in lacking the modified vertebrae and the falciform pliaryn- geals of the preceding order, and in having a more complex struc- ture of the shoulder-girdle than the Haplomi. There are 20 or 25 families, most of them marine ; some in the deep seas, ('la-os, equal; anovSvXos, vertebra). Family XXVII. HIODONTIDH3. (The Moon-eyes.) Body oblong, much compressed, covered with large, silvery cy- cloid scales ; head naked ; mouth terminal, oblique; margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries mesially and by' maxillaries laterally; maxillaries entire ; no barbels ; no adipose fin ; lateral line distinct ; abdomen compressed, not serrated ; moderate sized teeth on jaws, vomer, sphenoid, hyoid, pterygoid, and palatine bones; tongue with sharp canines; gill rakers few, short, thick; eye very large ; gill openings wide; one pyloric appendage; air- bladder simple ( no oviducts. One genus, with three species, inhab- iting our Western Streams and the Great Lakes, handsome fishes, of little value as food. 67. HIODON Le Sueur. (yoeiSf/s, hyoid (bone); dStav, tooth.) u. Belly strongly' carinate, both before and behind V.; D. very small, of nine developed rays. 160. H. alosoides (Rafinesque). Body deep, closely com- pressed ; snout blunter than in other species; eye moderate, 3£ in head; P. short, nearly as long as head, about reaching V.; longest dorsal ray about half longer than base of fin ; sides with golden lustre. Head 4£; depth 3^. D. 9. A. 32. Scales 6-56-9. L. 12. Ohio Valley to Saskatchewan R., common N. (Lat., alosa, shad; e’Sos, form.) aa. Belly scarcely carinate before V.; dorsal rays (developed) 12. i. Belly carinate between V. and A. 161. H. tergisus Le Sueur. Moon-eye. Silver Bass. Toothed Herring. Snout rounded, shorter than the large eye, which is 3J in head. Olivaceous, sides brilliantly silvery. Head70 TELEOSTEI: ISOSPONDYLI. — XIII. 4J; depth 3. D. 12. A. 28. Scales 5-56-7. L. 15. Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley, abundant; one of our most beautiful fresh-water fishes. (Lat., polished.) bb. Belly nowhere carinate. 162. H. selenops Jordan & Bean. Body elongate, less com- pressed; eye very large, 2^ in head. Head 4|; depth 4. D. 12 A. 27. Cumberland R. to Ala. (ovXqi/ij, moon ; &yjr, eye.) Family XXVIII. ALBULIDH3. (The Lady-fishes.) Body elongate, little compressed, covered with small, silvery scales; head naked; snout conic, pig-like, overhanging the small, inferior mouth; maxillary short, with supplemental bone; preorbi- tal very broad ; sides of upper jaw formed by maxillaries; eye large, with an adipose eyelid; gill rakers tubercle-like; preopercle with membranous edge; villiform teeth on jaws, vomer, and pala- tines ; coarse blunt teeth on tongue and roof of mouth ; lateral line present; belly flattish, not carinate; D. moderate, inserted before V.; A. very small; no adipose fin; C. forked. One species, in most warm seas. 68. ALBULA (Gronow) Bloch & Schneider. (Lat., white.) 163. A. vulpea (L.). Lady-fish. Bone-fish. Macabi. A band of elongate scales along middle of back; brilliantly silvery. Head 3f; depth 4. D. 15. A. 8. Scales 9-71-7. L. 30. Warm seas, N. to Cape Cod. (Lat., fox.) Family XXIX. ELOPIDH3. (The Tarpums.) Body elongate, more or less compressed, covered with silvery, cycloid scales; mouth large, terminal, the lower jaw prominent; maxillary long, of three pieces, forming side of upper jaw; an elon- gate bony plate between branches of lower jaw (as in Amia) ; bones of mouth almost all with villiform teeth; eye large, with an adipose eyelid; gill rakers long and slender; belly not compressed, covered with ordinary scales ; D. over or behind V.; C. forked; no adipose fin. Genera 2, species 4 or 5, in warm seas. u. Body elongate, with small scales ; A. smaller than D.; pseudobranchim present. (Elopince.)..............................Elofs, 69. aa. Bod}' oblong, compressed, with very large scales; no pseudobranchite; last ray of D. much produced. (Megalopiruz.). . . Megalops, 70. 69. ELOPS Linnaeus. (eXoi/r, name of some seaHsh.) 164. E. saurus L. Tenpounder. Silvery, darker above; gular plate about three times as long as broad; eye large ; tail very long; C. deeply forked. Head 4J; depth 5-J. D. 20. A. 13. Scales 12-120-13. L. 36. Warm seas, N. to Cape Cod; remarkable forCLUPEID7E. — XXX. 71 the development of membranous sheaths at bases of fins and else- where. (o-aipor, name of some sea-fish.) 70. MEGALOPS Lacepfcde. QieyaXo'jr, large eye.) 165. M. atlanticus Cuv. & Yal. Tarpum. Tarpon. Grande Fcaille. Silver-fish. Sabalo. Savanii.i.a. Brilliantly silvery. Mouth large, its cleft oblique, extending beyond the very large eye; lower jaw very prominent; D. inserted behind V.; dor- sal filament as long as head. Head 4 ; depth 4. D. 12. A. 20. Lat. 1. 42. L. 6 feet. West Indies and Gulf Coast, occasional N. to Cape Cod; remarkable for its enormous scales, sometimes three inches across. Family XXX. CLUPEIDJE. (The Herrings.) Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales; head naked; side of upper jaw formed by maxillaries; maxillaries composed of 2 or 3 pieces ; teeth feeble or wanting ; dorsal moderate; anal often very long ; caudal forked ; no lateral line ; no gular plate ; branehios- tegals 6 to 15 ; the tips of the larger ones abruptly truncate ; pseu- dobranchiae present; gill rakers long and slender; gill openings wide. Genera about 17; species 120; found in most seas, many spe- cies entering fresh water to spawn, a few remaining permanently. Many are highly valued as food fishes. It is probable that the Clupeidce are more numerous in individuals than any other family of fishes. u. Maxillary large, of about three pieces ; mouth terminal, the jaw scarcely shorter; carnivorous fishes, with simple not muscular stomach. 6. Belly rounded, with ordinary scales; the body subterete, supplemental bones of maxillary very narrow. (Vussumieriijws.) c. Y. small, behind D.; teeth small, persistent. . . . Eteumeus, 71. 46. Belly compressed to an edge and more or less serrated ; body com- pressed ; bones of maxillary broad. (Clupeince.) d. Scales with their posterior edges entire and rounded. e. Last ray of D, not produced ; scales loosely attached ; vertebrae 47 to 56.......................................Clupea, 72. ee. Last ray of D. produced in a long filament; scales rather firm; vertebra 48...............................Opisthonema, 73. dd. Scales with their posterior margins vertical, and pectinate or fluted; head very large ; D. small, posterior...........Brevoortia, 74. aa. Maxillary short and narrow, with a single supplemental bone ; mouth small, inferior, the lower jaw much shorter; mud-eating fishes, with the stomach muscular, like the gizzard of a fowl. (Dorusomina.) f. Last ray of D. produced in a long filament.........Dorosoma, 75. 71. ETEUMEUS Bleeker. (From the Japanese name.) 166. E. sadina (MitchiU). Bound Herring. Mouth small, reaching front of orbit; eye large; fins all very small. Bluish,72 TELEOSTEI: ISOSPONDYLI. — XIII. sides silvery. Head 4 j depth 6. D. 18 ; A. 13. L. 5. N. Y. to Fla., scarce. (Alosa teres Dekay.) (Corruption of sardine.) 72. CLUPEA (Artedi) Linnaeus. (Lat., herring.) a. Vomer with an ovate patch of minute teeth; serratures on belly very weak. 167. C. harengus L. Common Herring. Body elongate, the scales deciduous; cheeks longer than high; upper jaw scarcely emarginate; gill rakers X -j- 40 ; D. inserted before V.; lower fins small ; peritoneum dusky. Blue, silvery on sides. Head 4^; depth 4£. D. 18. A. 17. Lat. 1. 57. Scutes, 28 -j- 13- L. 12. N. Atlantic, everywhere, S. to Cape Cod; spawns in the sea. (Eu.) (Low Latin, herring.) aa. Vomer without teeth ; ventral serratures very strong; upper jaw emar- ginate. 6. Cheeks notably longer than deep, the preopercle produced forward below ; body not very deep; depth 3( or more in length. (Pomolobus Rafinesque.) l. Teeth in jaws all disappearing with age, a small patch sometimes re- maining on tongue. d. Peritoneum pale. -----<4 168. mediocris Mitchill. Tailor Herring. Fall Her- ring. Mattowacca. Head rather long, the profile straight and not very steep ; form more elliptical than in the next and less heavy forwards; opercles less emarginate below ; fins low. Bluish above ; sides with faint longitudinal streaks. Head 4 ; depth 3f. I). 15. A. 21. Lat. 1. 50. Ventral scutes, 2016. Cape Cod to Fla., chiefly S. 169. Ef pseudoharengus Wilson. Alewife. Gaspereau. Branch Herring. Wall-eyed Herring. Body deep, heavy forward; head short, nearly as deep as long ; eye large, 3^ in head; gill rakers long, about X —)— 35 ; first ray of D. about equal to base of fin; lower lobe of C. longer; fins rather high. Bluish, sides silvery, with faint dark streaks along rows of scales; a round dark spot at shoulder. Head4f; depth 3J. D. 16. A. 19. Lat. 1. 50. Scutes 21 -j-14. L. 15. Newfoundland to S. C., abundant, entering streams to spawn ; landlocked in lakes of W. N. Y. (Clupea ver- nalis Mitchill, 1815, but according to Dr. Gill, the paper of Alex- ander Wilson was published before 1814. See McDonald, Nat. Hist. Aquat. Anim. 580, 594.) (\jreidos, false; herring.) dd. Peritoneum black. 170. C. aestivalis Mitchill. Glut-Herring. Blue-back. Black-belly. Summer Herring. Very close to the preced- ing, the body more elongate, the fins lower, and the eyes smaller, the back darker. First ray of dorsal not equal to base of fin.CLUPEID-iE. — XXX. 73 Head 5; depth 3J. With C. pseudoharenyus, but running later, less abundant and much less valuable as a food-fish. (Lat., belong- ing to summer.) cc. Teeth on jaws ; usually persistent at tip of both jaws ; peritoneum p Pale- 171. 'Q. ohrysochloris Rafinesque. Skip-jack. Body ellipti- cal ; head slender, rather pointed; lower jaw strongly project- ing; maxillary reaching posterior part of eye; eye large, 4| in head ; fins moderate; gill rakers not numerous, rather stout, about X -j- 23 ; opercles striate. Bright blue, sides with golden reflec- tions. Head3f; depth3f. D.16. A.18. Lat.1.52. Scutes 20 -{-13. L. 18. Miss. Valley, etc., abundant and resident in larger streams, introduced into Great Lakes. Also in Gulf of Mexico. A hand- some but lean and poor fish in the rivers, becoming excessively fat in salt water, (xpvaos, golden; yXtopdt, green.) 66. Cheeks little if at all deeper than long, the preopercle scarcely pro- longed forward below; body deep ; depth of body 25 to 3; teeth few or none. (Alosa Cuvier.) 172. sapidissima Wilson. Shad. Body rather deep; mouth large, the jaws subequal; gill rakers very long and slender, X -j- 40 to 60; fins low. D. nearer snout than C. Bluish, sides more or less silvery ; usually a dark blotch behind opercle, and often several in a row behind this; peritoneum white. Head 4^; depth about 3. D. 15. A. 21. Lat. 1.60. Scutes 21 -+16. L. 30. Atlantic coast from the Miramachi to the Alabama, ascending rivers to spawn; one of the best of food-fish. Introduced in Ohio R. etc. (Superlative of Lat., sapidus, good to eat.) 73. OPISTHONEMA Gill. (SirtaBe, behind; idjpa, thread.) 173. O. oglinum (Le Sueur). Thread Herring. Body compressed; belly strongly serrate; jaws toothless ; dorsal filament about as long as head. Bluish, silvery below; a bluish shoulder spot; dark streaks along scales of back. Head 4 ; depth 3£ IX 19. A. 24. Lat. 1. 50. Scutes 17—(-11. L. 12. West Indies, N. to Cape Cod. 74. BREVOORTIA Gill. (To James Carson Brevoort, late of Brooklyn, N. Y.) 174. B. tyrannus (Latrobe). Menhaden. Mossbunker. Bug-fish. Fat-back. Body compressed, deep, heavy anteriorly; no teeth ; gill rakers very long and slender; scales very closely imbricated, irregularly arranged; fins small. Bluish, sides silvery or brassy; fins yellowish ; a dark scapular blotch, behind which are usually smaller spots. Head -■ 1; depth 3. D. 19. A. 19. Lat. 1. 60 to 80. Scutes 20+12. L. 20. Cape Cod to Florida; very abun-74 TELEOSTEI: ISOSPONDYLI. — XIII. dant, spawning in sea ; used for oil and manure. (A parasitic crustacean, Oniscus prcegustator Latrobe, is found in the mouth of this fish. The names of both species refer to this fact; the ancient Roman Emperors (tyranni) having had their tasters (prcegusta- tores) to try their food before them, to prevent poisoning.) 75. DOROSOMA Rafinesque. (8opo'r, lance ; abipa, body.) 175. D. cepedianum (Le Sueur). Gizzard Shad. Hickory Shad. Mud Shad. White-eyed Shad. Hairy-back. Body deep, compressed; the scales thin, deciduous; head small; snout short, blunt; mandible enlarged at base ; gill rakers very slender, not very long ; an adipose eyelid; D. about median, its filament about as long as head ; C. widely forked, its lower lobes longer ; belly sharply serrate. Bluish, sides silvery; young with a round dark shoulder spot. Head 4 J; depth 2J (2 to 3); eye \\ in head. D. 12. A. 31. Lat. 1. 56. Scutes 17—{—12. L. 15. Cape Cod to Mexico; abundant S. entering all rivers ; permanently resident throughout the Miss. Valley. A handsome, mud-loving fish, nearly worthless as food. (To Bernard'Germain Etienne, Comte de La Cepede, afterwards “ Citoyen Lacepede.”) Family XXXI. STOLEPHORID2E. (The Anchovies.) Body elongate, compressed, with thin, deciduous scales ; mouth very large; the pointed, pig-like snout, usually extending beyond it; maxillary very long and slender, of about 3 pieces, extending backward far beyond the eye; premaxillaries small; teeth usually very small; eye large, well forward; gill rakers long and slender. B. 7 to 14; no lateral line; belly rounded, or weakly serrate; no adipose fin ; C. forked. Small fishes swimming in large schools, abundant in all warm seas. Genera 9, species about 65, most of them belonging to Stolephorus. a. Gill membranes scarcely connected; gill openings very wide; no pectoral filaments; A. moderate, beginning behind D.; lower jaw included; max- illary not extending beyond gill openings; teeth very small or wanting. Stolephokus, 76. 76. STOLEPHORUS Lacepede. (Engraulis Cuvier.) (crokij, a stole; $opo's, bearing, in allusion to the silvery band.) u. Body compressed, moderately elongate, the depth more than one-fifth the length; insertion of D. nearer C. than tip of snout. b. Anal long, its rays about 26, its base us in body. 176. S. mitchilli (Cuv. & Val.). Snout rather blunt, little pro- jecting; body much compressed; both jaws with teeth ; eye very large. Pale, a narrow, diffuse, silvery lateral band, little broader than pupil. Head 3|; depth 4. D. 14. A. 26. Lat. 1. 37. L. 2^.SYNODONTIDiE. — XXXII. 75 Cape Cod to Texas, common S. (To Prof. Samuel Latham Mitch- ill, of New York, an early ichthyologist.) bb. Anal fin moderate, its rays about 20, its base 4? in body. 177. S. browni (Gmelin). Snout pointed, considerably pro- jecting; belly somewhat serrated; eye 3^ in head; teeth in both jaws. Translucent, silvery band ; sharply defined, about as broad as eye. Head 3f; depth 4f. D. 15. A. 20. Lat. 1. 40. L. 6. Cape Cod to Brazil, exceedingly abundant S. (To Mr. P. Browne, author of Nat. Hist, of Jamaica, in 1756.) aa. Body elongate, less compressed, the depth less than one-fifth the length; insertion of D. midway between snout and C. 178. S. argyrophanus (Cuv. & Val.). Tail long and slender; snout pointed, projecting; belly not serrated ; eye 4 in head; teeth in jaws present, feeble; anal short, its base in body; silvery lateral band broad, diffuse, broader than eye. Head 3J ; depth 6. D. 14. A. 19. L. 4. Wood’s Holl, Mass., and S. (S. eurystole Swain & Meek.) (ilpyvpos, silver ; ipaiva, to show.) Family XXXII. SYNODONTIDyE. (The Lizard-fishes.) Body elongate, subterete, covered with cycloid scales; head de- pressed ; mouth very wide, its margin formed by the slender pre- maxillaries; the maxillaries closely joined to them ; teeth usually strong, cardiform, the large ones often depressible ; no barbels; sides of head usually scaly; adipose fin usually present; D. short, median; C. forked. Air-bladder small or wanting; skeleton weakly ossified; no phosphorescent spots. Ovaries with an oviduct. Genera 6 or 8; species about 25, mostly of deep waters in warm regions. (More or less related to this family are several others : Stomiatidce, Scopelidce, Chauliodontidce, etc., found in the deep waters off our coasts. Most of these deep-sea forms are provided with phosphorescent spots. A very full account of them has been lately published by Dr. Gunther, — Deep-sea Fishes of the Chal- lenger Exped.) «. Teeth not barbed; maxillary not dilated behind; teeth on palatines in a single band on each side; shore-fishes.................Synodus, 77. 77. SYNODUS (Gronow) Bloch & Schneider. (crvvoSovs, ancient name of some fish). 179. S. foetens (L.). Lizard-fish. Snake-fish. Dorsal slightly higher than long; snout longer than broad; lower jaw in- cluded ; scales of cheeks in 7 rows ; ventrals 2^- in head. Olivaceous, back mottled ; top of head vermiculated ; V. and mouth yellow. Head 4} ; depth 6 or 7. D. 11. A. 11. Scales 4-64-6. L. 12. Cape Cod to Fla., on sandy coasts. (Lat., ill-scented.)76 TELEOSTEI : ISOSPONDYLI. — XIII. Family XXXTTT. ARGENTINES. (The Smelts.) The smelts may be looked upon as reduced Salmonidce, the only important difference being in the form of the alimentary canal. The stomach is a blind sac, the oesophagus and the pylorus opening close together, and the pyloric coeca 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; Y. before middle of D. b. Scales very small, some of them modified in males; teeth feeble; P. large, of 16 to 20 rays, adipose fin with long base. . Mallotus, 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. (/laWcoros, villous). 180. M. villosus (Miiller). Capelin. Ice-fish. Dusky, sides grayish. Old males with scales above lateral line and on side of belly, elongate, closely imbricate, forming villous bands. Head 4-J-; depth 6. D. 12. A. 18. Lat. 1. 150. L. 12. Arctic, S. to Maine. 79. OSMERUS (Artedi) Linnseus. (oapypos, odorous.) u. Vomer with 2 to 4 fang-like teeth; lat. 1. about 68. 181. O. mordax (Mitchill). Smelt. Frost-fish. Greenish, sides with a silvery band ; back with dark points; teeth strong, gill rakers shortish, f 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.) Family XXXIV. SALMONIDzE.1 (The Salmon.) 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- chise 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 coeca. 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..............Coregonus, 80. 1 For a detailed account of the fishes of this familvsee Jordan, Science Sketches, p. 35.SALM0NIDA2. — XXXIV. 77 aa. Jaws with distinct teeth ; scales smaller. b. Dorsal very long and high, of about 20 rays ; scales medium ; tongue toothless..........................................Tiivmallus, 81. bb. Dorsal moderate, its rays 9 to 15; tongue with teeth; teeth strong; A. short} of 9 to 11 developed rays. c. Vomer flat, its toothed surface plane, the teeth on its shaft in one or two rows, sometimes deciduous ; speeies black-spotted, with con- spicuous scales..............................................Salmo, 82. cc. Vomer boat-shaped, tjie shaft strongly depressed, without teeth ; scales very small, more or less imbedded; species with red or gray spots................................................Salvelinus, 83. 80. COREGONUS (Artedi) Linnaeus. White-fishes. (This genus contains about forty species, lake-fishes of northern regions, usually spawning in shallow waters or in brooks in late fall or winter. All are excellent food-fishes, and all are very varia- ble.) (The old name, of uncertain origin.) a. Lower jaw included ; premaxillaries broad, placed more or less vertically, or the lower edge turned inward ; the cleft of the mouth less than one- third the head. b. Gill rakers short, thickish, about X -f-16; preorbital broad, wider than pupil; maxillary short, broad, not reaching to eye; the supplemental bone narrowly elliptical; supraorbital broad; mouth very small. (Prosopium Milner.) 182. C. quadrilateralis Richardson. Round-fish. Pilot- fish. Shad-waiter. Menomonee White-fish. Body sub- terete, the back broad; maxillary 5^ in head ; head long, the snout compressed and bluntly pointed ; preorbital wider than pupil. Dark bluish, sides paler. Head 5 ; depth 4|. D. 11. A. 10. Scales 9-85-8. N. H. to L. Superior, Alaska, and N. Through- out the Rocky Mountains is found a closely related species, C. wil- liamsoni Girard, with shorter snout and longer maxillary. (Lat., 4-sided). bb. Gill rakers numerous, long and slender, X + 20 to 25; preorbital long and narrow; maxillary rather long, the supplemental bone ovate. (Coregonus.) c. Tongue toothless; body robust, elevated at the shoulders in the adult; the head very small, especially in old examples. 183. C. clupeiformis (Mitchill). Common White-fish. Snout bluntish, obliquely truncate; preorbital not half pupil; max- illary past front of orbit, 4 in head; eye large; gill rakers f- eye. Color pale, scarcely silvery. Head 5 to 6; depth to 4. D. 11. A. 11. Scales 8-74-9. L. 30. Great Lakes and N.; by far the most valuable of the American white fishes. Very variable; feeds on minute organisms. (Clupea, herring ; forma, shape.) cc. Tongue with about 3 series of small teeth; body rather elongate; the back scarcely elevated.78 TELEOSTEI: ISOSPONDYU. — XIII. 184. C. labradoricus Richardson. Sault White-fish. Musquaw River White-fish. “ Whiting.” Head com- pressed, rather long; mouth rather small, the jaws equal; maxillary to front of pupil; eye 4^ in head ; supraorbital narrow ; D. high in front, its last rays short. Bluish, sides little silvery; fins dusky. Head 4f ; depth i\. D. 11. A. 11. Scales 9-80-8. L. 20. White Mts. to Labrador and L. Superior; abundant N. aa. Lower jaw projecting; premaxillaries narrow, not vertically placed; pre- orbital elongate; gill rakers very long and slender, about X -f 30; the cleft of the mouth 2) to 3, in the head. d. Body elongate, herring-shaped; scales small, uniform, the free edges convex. (Argyrosomus Agassiz.) e. Lower fins pale, or tipped with dusky. f. Scales brilliantly silvery, without dark specks. 185. C. hoyi (Gill). Lake Moon-eye. Cisco of Lake Michigan. Head rather long, lower jaw barely included ; maxil- lary 3 in head to middle of pupil; eye very large, 3^ in head; lower jaw little projecting; gill rakers nearly as long as eye ; fins low; free edge of D. very oblique. Color bluish, sides brilliantly silvery, as in Iiiodon and Albula. Head ; depth 4|. D. 10. A. 10. Scales 7-75-7. L. 12. Smallest and prettiest of our white-fishes, from Skaneateles L., N. Y., to L. Mich., in deep water. (To Dr. Philo R. Hoy, of Racine, Wis.) ff. Scales more or less punctulate with darker. 186. C. artedi Le Sueur. Lake Herring. Cisco. Michi- gan Herring. Maxillary 3^ in head, reaching middle of pupil; eye 4 to 5 in head. Bluish or greenish, sides silvery; scales and fins with dark specks. Head 4J; depth 4£. D. 10. A. 12. Scales 8-75 to 90-7. L. 15. Great Lakes to Labrador ; very abundant, usually in shoal waters, also land-locked in lakes of N. Ind. and Wis. (var. sisco Jordan), where it lives in deep water, spawn- ing near shore in December. (To Peter Artedi, the “ father of ichthyology.”) ec. Lower fins blue-black. 187. C. nigripinnig (Gill). Blue-fin. Body more robust than in C. artedi; mouth large; eye 4 in head; teeth present, minute. Dark bluish, sides silvery, punctulate. Head 4£; depth 3f. D. 10. A. 12. Scales 9-88-7. L. 20. L. Mich., in deep water. (Lat., niger, black; pinna, fin.) dd. Body short, deep, compressed; the curve of back similar to that of belly; scales large, larger forwards, closely imbricated ; the free margin little convex. (Allosomut Jordan.) 188. C. tullibee Richardson. Tullibee. “ Mongrel White- fish.” Head much as in C. nigripinnis; maxillary as long as eye; jaws equal when closed; eye as long as snout, 4If. Bluish,SALM0NIDA1. — XXXIV. 79 Bides white; centre of each scale silvery; outside dotted, the sides thus with faint pale stripes. Head 4; depth 3. D. 11. A. 11. Scales 8-74-7. L. 18. Great Lakes, N., scarce. (An Indian name.) 81. THYMALLtJS Cuvier. (diipaAW, ancient name of the Grayling.) 189. T. signifer Richardson. American Grayling. Body compressed, rather elongate; head short, subconic; mouth moder- ate, the maxillary to middle of eye; jaws subequal; teeth on tongue disappearing with age; eye large, 3 in head; a bare space on breast; gill rakers slender, X-(-ll; D. very high, especially in males, highest in specimens from far North. Purplish gray, with small black spots; ventrals dusky, with pale lines; dorsal highly variegated, with crimson and dusky streaks and greenish and rose- colored spots. Head4f; depth 4f. D. 20. A. 10. Scales 8-90 to 100-9. L. 18. Arctic America, in clear, cold streams. The Michigan Grayling is var. ontariensis Cuv. & Yal. (= T. tricolor, Cope), with rather longer head and lower dorsal, its height rarely greater than depth of body; in a few streams in N. Mich, and Mon- tana; a remnant perhaps of the glacial fauna. (Lat., bearing a banner.) 82. SALMO (Artedi) Linnaeus. (Lat., salmon, originally from salio, to leap.) (Besides the native Salmon, the following species have been introduced into waters within our limits : Salmo fario L., the “ Brook-trout,” or “ Brown Trout,” of Europe, with the vomerine teeth well developed and the scales rather large, about 120. Salmo gairdneri Richardson, the “Rainbow Trout” of California, similar to the last, and with about 130 scales. Salmo mykiss Walbaum, the Red-throated or Rocky Mountain Trout, with larger mouth and the scales about 175. Besides this, the great Salmon of the Columbia, the Quinnat or King Salmon, Oncorhynchus tschawytscha (Walbaum), has been introduced. This, the most valuable of all Salmonida, may be known by the presence of 16 anal rays, and by the black spots on back and upper fins. Its scales are about 145.) a. Marine Salmon, anadromous, with the vomerine teeth little developed, those on the shaft of the bone few and deciduous; scales large (lat 1. 120); C. deeply lunate, truncate in old age; no hyoid teeth; sexual differences strong; breeding males with the lower jaw hooked upwards, the upper emarginate or perforate, to receive its tip (Salmo). 190. S. salar Linnseus. Common Salmon. Mouth moderate, maxillary reaching past eye, 2 ,V to 3 in head ; preopercle with a distinct lower limb. Brownish above, the sides silvery; many black spots on head, body and fins, these sometimes X-shaped; sides with80 TELEOSTEI: ISOSPONDYLI. — XIII. red patches in rnales; young (parr ; sraolt) with dark cross-bars and red spots. Head 4; depth 4. B. 11. D. 11. A. 9. Scales 23-120-21; vert. 60; pyl. caeca 65; usual weight 15 pounds, but often much larger. N. Atlantic, S. to N. Y. and France, ascend- ing all suitable rivers; often (var. sebago Girard), land-locked in lakes. One of the best known and most valued of food-fish. Vari- able. (An old name, from salio, to leap.) (/i'u.) 83. BALVELINUS (Nilsson) Richardson. Charrs. (An old name, allied to the German, Sdlbling.) (The species of this group are in general smaller, finer, hand- somer, and more wary than the Salmon, and they inhabit in general colder waters. Besides the native species, attempts have been made to introduce the following : Salvetinus alpinui L., the Euro- pean charr, Salbling, or Ombre Chevalier, a species very close to S. oquassa and S. malma (Walbaum), the “Dolly Varden Trout,” or “ Bull Trout ” of the Rocky Mountain slope; very close to S. fondnalis, the back as well as the sides, with red spots). a. Hyoid bone (base of tongue) with a band of strong teeth (besides the usual teeth around edge of tongue); head of the vomer with a raised crest, which projects backward, free from and parallel with the shaft; this crest with teeth; lake trout, very large, spotted with gray. (Crisli- vomer Gill & Jordan.) *61. ». namaycush (Walbaum). Great Lake Trout. Mackinaw Trout. Salmon Trout (of the Lakes, not of England, nor of Oregon, nor of the Gulf of St. Lawrence). Longe. Togue. Head very long; mouth very large, the maxil- lary reaching much beyond eye, 2 in head ; teeth very strong; C. well forked. Dark gray, varying in shade; everywhere with round pale spots; head above, and D. and C. reticulate with darker; eye large. Head 4^; depth 4. B. 12. D. 11. A. 11. Lat. 1. 185 to 205. L. 3 feet or more. Great Lake region, and lakes from New Brunswick to Montana, British Columbia and Alaska, abundant, variable. A food-fish of high value. In Lake Superior is found var. siskawitz Agassiz, the Siscowet, similar, but less elongate and inordinately fat. (Indian name.) an. Hyoid bone with a very few feeble teeth or with none; vomer with teeth on its head only and without posterior crest; red-spotted species. (8al- velinut.) b. Hyoid teeth none; head large, 4 to 4} in length; red spots of body on sides only, 192. S. fontinalia (Mitchill). Brook Trout.1 Speckled Trout. Head large, the snout bluntish; mouth large, the maxil- 1 "This Is the last generation of tront fishers. The children will not he able to find any. Already there are well trodden paths by every stream in Maine, in New York, and in Michigan. I know of but one river in North America by the side of which yonsjllmomdje. — xxxrv. 81 tarv beyond eye: eye targe: C lunate. forked ta young. Puskv greenish, si '.v s with red spots mostly smaller than ; upU; back mostly unspotted. barred or mottled with dark: 1*. and C. mottled Scales S3-210--4*>. L. 12. or more. Sunapee Lake. X. H., very close to o'- i/gaussu. but reaching a larger sue. (_Lac.. gilded ) cc. o'- -akers sc-umuc. 124. S. oejuassa (Girard). BrrK^ACK Trout. Rasgeikt Lake Trvkt. Body elongate. compressed; head steal , tlatttsh above; eye in head; P. and V. -cot elongate; C. deeply lunate; opercles without scrim. lx.r\ blue, the red spots smaller than pupil, on sides on’y; traces of dark tars on sides: tower tins varte- gaced as in other charts- Head 3; depth A D- Id. A. 2. Lat. P i.iiy. Gill rakers 8 4~ 11. L- 12. Smallest and prettiest of our Sri ' ". and most 5ke the European 5e.-e:-v ss uiplmcs. found onh-in the Kaageter lakes in 8- W. Maine, and (8 mnesi Gun- ther). in some takes'in Arctic America. Perhaps a variety of 8. sruonuGs Fabrieius. of Greenland. i,From Oipuasscc. one of the Kangetey Lakes.) wt2 tijpi Tjttpvr ivObr irtslter d'ritteactj «rf s£*tl£sttewiik ft 5? ^ktntetes* K^r. \ -c shut WW tnJl dWfef» to W r*ior ** tofctted by aatetolwty- ana tsin**tX ra iTvovfe: xavt &68»twt£ da dtopjw'* »m£ ir-nv 4h&&5 inti I'ts? titeit $^> C8. T!te tevttfe j£ tiht wstonranfc wttt twe wise w k R« g aw uww tt&f tlte tomfc $£ dto iwxfti r>«r stout site foe anti ^ ^ ^ is site bvtwfinfe- Swilimc wit tgey pvimt tiR dtwpntftte itict •ittprfwwc Ttte tevttS Stott Site lAfflftwx *riH fejcjatl. 19 Site l^rn; «3V»r df Site WUrby-vtmCwr. ibte to up ah* diusKaciv 4*>to to ftittoc &t. w -tyivisv irltet* ousife is Ute ^fruteirnc (JlSrrwi* WT. ®»wtJ82 TELEOSTEI : HAPLOMI. — XIV. Family XXXV. PBRCOPSID^J. (The Trout Perches.) Body elongate, covered with moderate-sized, thin, strongly ctenoid scales ; head naked; no barbels; opercles well developed ; gill open- ings wide; an adipose fin; mouth small, horizontal; teeth very small, villiform; no teeth on vomer or palate; margin of upper jaw formed by premaxillaries alone, these short and not protrac- tile ; gill rakers tubercle-like; cavernous structure of the skull highly developed, as in Stelliferus, Acerina and Ericymba; fins much as in Salmonidce ; pellucid; branchiostegals 6 ; stomach siphonal with about 10 pylorie caeca; ova large; no oviduct. A single spe- cies inhabiting cold fresh waters in the northern U. S. Interest- ing little fishes, with the general characters of Salmonidce, but having the mouth and scales decidedly Perch-like. 84. PER ; o\jns, appearance.) 195. P. „ D ch. Silvery; upper parts with rounded dark spots made up of minute dots ; lower jaw included; tail long. Head 3-J; depth 4J. D. 11. A. 8. Lat. 1. 50. L. 10. Great Lakes and tributaries, rarely S.; Ohio R. (Jordan); Potomac R. (Baird); Delaware R. (Abbott); Kansas (Gill). (Lat., spotted.) Order XIV. HAPLOMI. (The Pike-like Fishes.) This order differs from the other soft-rayed fishes, chiefly in the simpler structure of the shoulder girdle, which lacks the prsecoracoid arch. There is never an adipose dorsal; the dorsal is posterior in position and the head is depressed and usually more or less scaly. The pseudobranchi® are wanting or glandular. The group is made up chiefly of fresh-water species. (d7rXdof, simple; di/nos, shoulder.) Family XXXVI. AMBLYOPSHLE (The Cave Body elongate, with long depressed head; mouth large, the lower jaw projecting; premaxillaries scarcely protractile, forming whole edge of upper jaw; teeth villiform; eyes sometimes rudimentary and concealed under the skin ; head naked, with papillary ridges; body with small, cycloid scales, irregularly arranged; no lateral line; D. far back, opposite A.; C. rounded; V. small, or wanting; vent at the throat, as in Aphredoderus; gill membranes joined to isthmus; stomach ctecal, with pyloric appendages; some (and probably all) viviparous. Genera 3; species 5. Fishes of small size living in subterranean streams and ditches of the central and southern U. S-, probably remnants of an ancient fauna. Fishes.)CYPRIN ODONTIDAS,— XXXYII. 83 u. Eyes rudimentary, concealed under the skin; body colorless ; one pyloric cmcum. b. Yentrals present, small.............Amblyopsis, 85. bb. Ventrals entirely wanting. . ....Typhlichthys, 86. aa. Eyes well developed; body colored; noventrals; two pyloric caeca. Chologaster, 87. 85. AMBLYOPSIS DeKay. (a/i/3Xu?, obtuse; oyfns, vision. 196. A. spelaeus DeKay. Blind Fish of the Mammoth Cave. Head 3; depth 4£; D. and A. equal, well developed; head and body with papillary ridges; scales small; colorless. D. 10. A. 9. Y. 4. P. 11. L. 2 to 5. Subterranean streams of Ky. and Ind., Mammoth Cave, etc. (Lat., living in caves.) “ If the Arnblyopses be not alarmed, they come to the surface to feed, and swim in full sight, like white aquatic ghosts. They are then easily taken by the hand or net if perfect silence be preserved, for they are unconscious of the presence of an enemy except through the sense of hearing. This sense is however very acute; for at any noise, they turn suddenly and hide beneath stones at the bottom. They take much of their food near the surface, as the life of the depths is apparently very sparse. This habit is rendered very easy by the structure of the fish, for the mouth is directed upwards, and the head is very flat above, thus allowing the mouth to be at the surface.’; (Cope.) 86. TYPHLICHTHYS Girard. (rn^Xo's, blind; lx6vs, fish.) 197. T. subterraneus Girard. General character of A. spelceus, but the head rather blunter and broader forwards; the mouth smaller. D. 8. A. 8. P. 12. L. 2. Caves and wells in Ky., Tenn., Ala.; as common as the preceding, of which it is perhaps a variation. 87. CHOLOGASTER Agassiz. (ywAor, maimed; ■yaonjp, belly.) 198. C. agassizii Putnam. Eyes large; uniform light brown; fins speckled. P. a little more than half way to D. Head 4; depth 4. D. 9. A. 9. L. lj. Subterranean streams in Tenn. and Ky. A closely related species (C. cornutus Ag.), is known from a rice-ditch in S. C. (For Louis Agassiz.) 199. C. papilliferus Forbes. Yellowish brown, dark above; sides with three dark streaks, the middle streak pale behind head; C. dark, with cross-rows of white specks ; eye small, 6 in head, above and well behind maxillary; P. reaching half way to D.; body with tactile papillary ridges. Head 3^-. L. 1 inch. Cave spring, Union Co., 111. (Lat., bearing papilla.') Family XXXYII. CYPRINODONTIDiE. (The Killi- FISHES.) Body oblong, depressed in front, more or less compressed be- hind, covered with adherent cycloid scales; no lateral line; head scaly; mouth small, terminal, extremely protractile; the edge of84 TELEOSTEI: HAPLOMI. — XIV. upper jaw formed by premaxillaries; teetb various; gill membranes somewhat connected, free from isthmus; B. 4 to 8; D. single, inserted posteriorly, rarely preceded by a spine; C. not forked; stomach sipkonal, without pyloric caeca; sexes unlike ; some spe- cies ovoviviparous. Genera 30; species 140; in fresh and brackish waters of all warm regions. Most of them are small in size, and some species of Heterandria are perhaps the smallest of fishes. The species here mentioned are carnivorous, surface swimmers; many southern species feed on mud and slime. u. Intestinal canal short, but little convoluted; dentary bones firmly united; teetb fixed; carnivorous species. b. Oviparous species, the anal fin of the male not modified into an intromit- tent organ. (Cyprinodontince.) c. Teeth in a single series, incisor-like, notched; dorsal of 10 or 11 rays, the first ray small; gill openings restricted above; body stout and deep........................................Cyprinodor, 88. cc. Teeth pointed; ventrals present; air-bladder present, e. Teeth ill more than one series. f. Dorsal rather large, well forward; Its rays usually 11 to 18, the first above or in front of A...........Fundulus, 89.' ff. Dorsal small and posteriorly placed, its rays 7 to 10; the first generally behind front of the small anal; size small. Zygonectes, 90. ee. Teeth in one series; D. inserted before A.; D. and A. short, of 9 to 13 rays......................................Lucaria, 91. bb. Ovoviviparous species, the anal fin of the male advanced and modified into a sword-shaped intromittent organ. (Anablepince.) g. Eye normal, not divided by crosswise partition; jaws short; fins small; D. inserted behind A. . . . Gambusia, 92. 88. CYPRINODON Lacepede. (pumplvos, carp; uStiiv, tooth.) 200. C. variegatus LacepUde. Body short, deep, compressed; humeral scale 4 times size of others; £ steel-blue, more or less copper-red below; C. with black bar at base and tip; 9 oliva- ceous, sides silvery, with irregular dark cross-streaks; a dark spot on D. behind. Head 3; depth in adult about 2. D. 10. A. 10. Scales 25-12. L. 2 to 4 inches, southern specimens being larger and more brightly colored. Cape Cod to Texas, in brackish waters. 89. FUNDUIiUS Lacepede. (Lat., fundus, bottom; they often bury in the mud.) a. Scales comparatively large, about 36 in a lengthwise series, 13 in a cross- series. b. Branchiostegals 6; cf with dark cross-bars and a black dorsal spot; 9 with longitudinal black bands. 201. F. majalis (Walbaum). Killifish. May-fish. Head long, with long snout; D. moderate; A. very high in $ ; eye mod- erate; $ olivaceous, brassy on sides; with about 12 bars of colorCYPRIN ODONTIDJJ.— XXXVII. 85 of back ; a black spot on D.; lower fins sometimes yellow, and top of head black; 9 much larger than $, paler, a black band on level of eye with two shorter bands below it; one or two black cross-bars at base of C. Idead 3J; depth 4. D. 12. A. 10. Scales 36-13. L. 6. Cape Cod to Fla.; the largest of the genus, common in shallow bays. S. occurs F. similis Baird & Girard, with scales 33, and both sexes resembling $ of F. majalis. (Lat., pertaining to May.) bb. Branchiostegals 5: a\pis, eye.) 135. CARANX Laeep£de. (A corruption of the Portuguese Acarauna, French Carangue.) a. Teeth in jaws in few series, unequal, those above enlarged, those below uniserial; teeth on vomer, palatines end tongue; soft dorsal and anal falcate in front; maxillary broad. (Carunx.)CARANGIDA3. LVI. 109 b. Body subfusiform, the depth less than ^ the length; breast scaly; no canines; scutes numerous, 40 to 50. 278. C. chrysos (Mitchill.) Hard-tail. Yellow Mackerel. Cojinera. Greenish, yellow below; a black blotch on opercle; none on P; breast scaly; arch of lateral line about half straight part. Head 3£; depth 3^. D. VIII - 1, 24. A. II, 1, 19. Scutes 50. L. 18. Cape Cod, S., rather common, (ypinror, gold.) bb. Body oblong-ovate, the depth more than } the length; outer teeth stronger; scutes larger, 25 to 30; silvery species. c. Breast entirely scaly; opercular spot inconspicuous; lower jaw with- out distinct canines. 279. C. latus Agassiz. Jurel. Pectoral spot usually wanting. Head 3f; depth 2J. D. VIII-1, 22. A. II-l, 16. Scutes, 30. L. 18. Warm seas, rarely N. (Lat., broad.) cc. Breast naked, except a small rhombic scaly area before V.; lower jaw with two small canines; adult with a large black spot on opercle, and one towards base of P. 280. C. hippos (L.). Crevalle. Cavalla. Head large and deep, especially in adult, mouth large. Head 3>J-; depth to 3. D. VIII-1, 20. A. 11-1,17. Scutes 25. L. 36. Warm seas, N. to Cape Cod; common S. (orTrot, horse.) aa. Teeth of jaws equally small; breast naked, spinous dorsal disappearing with age ; soft dorsal and anal with 3 to 6 anterior rays produced in long filaments. (Alectis Rafinesque.) 281. C. gallus (L.). Thread-fish. Body very deep, broadly ovate, its edges trenchant; scales minute; scutes very feeble; sil- very, darker above; a dark blotch on opercle; changes greatly with age. Head 3; depth 2 (young as deep as long). D. VI-1, 19. A. 16. Scutes 9 to 12. L. 2 feet. Warm seas, N. to N. Y. (The American fish, called Cciranx crinitus Mitchill, seems to be the same as the East Indian C. gallus.) (Lat., cock.) 136. VOMER Cuvier. (Lat., ploughshare.) 282. V. setipinnis (Mitchill). Moon-fish. Horse-fish. Body oblong, excessively compressed, but less elevated than in C. gallus or in Selene vomer; fins in adult all very low, none filamentous; head very gibbous above eye; scutes minute. Head 3) ; depth 2 (deeper in young). D. VIII-1, 21 to 25; A. II—1, 18 to 20. L. 18. Tropical America, N. to Maine. (Lat., seta, bristle; •pinna, fin.) 137. SELENE Laccpede. (ovXipij, the moon.) a. D. with 22 soft rays ; A. with about 18; anterior profile of head from base of snout to occiput almost straight, the bones of the head being much distorted.110 TELEOSTEI: ACANTHOPTERI. XX. 283. S. vomer (L.). Moon-fish. Horse-head. Look-down. Adult with soft rays of D. and A. much produced; young with dorsal spines and V. variously elongate, these fins short with age. Silvery. Head 3; depth 1|. L. 12. Warm seas, frequently N. to Cape Cod. 138. CHLOROSCOMBRUS Girard. (^Xmpos, green ; anopfipos, mackerel.) 284. C. chrysurus (L.). Bumper. Casaee. Greenish; sides and below golden; a dark blotch on back of tail; head deep; mouth very oblique; P. very long; chord of arch of lateral line 1^ to If in straight part; no scutes. Head 3f; depth 2f. D. VIII- 1, 26. A. II-1, 26. L. 9. W. Indies, rare N. (xpvaos, gold; oipa, tail.) 139. TRACHINOTUS Lneepede. Pompanos. (rpaxv:, rough; vuiros, back.) a. Dorsal with 19 to 20 soft rays; anal with 17 to 19. b. Body broadly ovate, its depth at all ages more than half the body; sides without black bars. 285. T. falcatus (L.). Round Pompano. Palometa. Body deep; profile from nostril to dorsal everywhere about equally con- vex ; lobes of D. and A. high, reaching in adult beyond middle of fin; bluish, sides silvery; lobes of D. black in young; no axillary spot. Head3f; depth If. L. 20. Warm seas, occasional N. to N. Y. (T. ovalus (L.); T. rhomboides Bloch.) (Lat., scythe- shaped.) aa. Dorsal with 25 soft rays; anal with 22; body oblong, rather robust. 286. T. carolinus (L.). Common Pompano. Bluish, golden below; changes greatly with age, the young deeper, with conspic- uous fin-spines, and with teeth in jaws; D. and A. lobes about reaching middle of fins. Head 4; depth 2f. L. 18. Gulf Coast, etc., N. to Cape Cod, common S.; a famous food fish. 140. NATJCRATES Rafinesque. (vaviepan)r, pilot.) 287. N. ductor (L.). Pilot-fish. Romero. Bluish with about 6 broad dark vertical bars. Head 4 ; depth 4. D. IV - 1, 26. A. II-1, 16. Pelagic; occasional on our coast. (I?u.) (Lat., guide.) 141. SERIOLA Cuvier. Amber-fishes. (An Italian name.) 288. S. zonata (Mitchill). Rudder-fish. Bluish, with 6 broad black bars, which fade or disappear with age; an oblique dark band from eye to spinous dorsal; Y. mostly black. Head longer than deep; occiput compressed; tail keeled. Head 3J; depth 3J. D. VII -1, 38. A. II-1, 21. L. 30. Cape Cod to W. I, not rare. (Lat., banded.)POMATOMIDiE. — LVII. Ill 142. ELAGATIS Bennett. (p'kaKaTr;, spindle.) 289. E. bipinnulatus (Quoy & Gaimard). Blue, yellow be- low ; side with 3 longitudinal bluish stripes. Head 3|; depth 3f. D. VI- 1, 27-II. A. II — 1, 17-11. L. 18. Warm seas, rarely N. to L. I. {Meek.') (Lat., bis, two; pinnula, little fin.) Family LVII. POMATOMIDjE. (The Blue-fishes.) Closely allied to the Carangidce but with the scales larger and weakly ctenoid. Mouth large, oblique, with very strong, compressed, unequal teeth; premaxillaries protractile; caudal peduncle stout, the fin forked, with broad lobes; preopercle serrate; lateral line unarmed. First dorsal of about 8 fragile spines; second D. and A. long; anal spines minute. A single species, in most warm seas. 143. POMATOMUS Lacepbde. {rraipa, opercle ; ropor, cutting.) 290. P. saltatrix (L.). Blue-fish. Skip-jack. Bluish, sil- very below; a black blotch at base P.; body robust, somewhat com- pressed ; P. inserted low, nearly 2 in head. Head 3|; depth 4. D. VIII-1, 25. A. II-l, 26. Lat. 1. 95. L. 3 feet. Warm seas, common on our Atlantic coast; an excellent and gamy fish, but very destructive to other species. (Lat., leaper.) Family LVIII. STROM ATEID^E. (The Butter-fishes.) This family is also very close to the Carangidce, differing chiefly in the presence of numerous horny, barbed or hooked teeth in the oesophagus, and in the greater number of vertebrae (30 or more). There are no free anal spines, and the spinous D. is very much re- duced or even wanting. Some of the species differ from.other mackerel-like fishes in having the gill membranes attached to the isthmus, while still others have no ventral fins. Genera 5 ; species about 30; of the warm seas. a. Ventral fins I, 5, well-developed; premaxillaries protractile; gill openings wide; caudal peduncle stout. (Centrolophinai.) b. Preopercle finely serrate; dorsal spines short and stout; anterior rays of D. low; scales moderate.......................Leirus, 144. aa. Ventrals minute or absent; premaxillaries not protractile; caudal pe- duncle slender; the fin widely forked; opercles entire; scales minute; spinous D. almost obsolete. (Stromateime.) c. Gill membranes free from isthmus.........Stromateus, 145. 144. LEIRUS Lowe, (\eipos, thin.) 291. L. perciformis (Mitchill). Black Rudder-fish. Black- ish-green everywhere ; eye large; snout blunt. Head 3^; depth 2J. D.VII-1, 20. A. Ill, 16. Lat. 1. 75. L. 12. Maine to N. J., not rare N. (Lat., perca, perch; formis, shape.)112 TELKOSTEI: ACANTIIOPTERI. — XX. 145. STROMATEUS (Artedi) Linnaeus. (arpapartvs, ancient name.) a. Pelvis ending in a small spine; V. wanting. b. D. and A. little falcate, their lobes shorter than head; a row of con- spicuousnorcs alongside of back above lateral lino. (Poronotiu Gill.) 292. B. winoaiitmin Pect . D oiXa r-fib11. Butter-fish. Bluish; silvery below; body oval, compressed; snout very blunt. Head 4 ; depth 2J. D. Ill, 40. A. Ill, 37. L. 10. Maine to Florida, common N. (rp/t, three; axavda, spine.) bb. D. and A. falcate, their lobes longer than head; back without evident pores. (Rliombut LacdpOde.) K2iWlr5& paru L. Harvest-fish. Bluish, yellow below; body almost round, with vertical snout. Head 4; depth 1 D. Ill, 40. A. II, 43. L. 8. Cape Cod to S. A., rare N. (Brazilian name.) Family LIX. CORYPH.t3ENID.i3D. (The Dolphins.) Body elongate, compressed, with small, cycloid scales; mouth wide, with moderate teeth; opercles entire; occipital crest extend- ing well forward, becoming very high in the adult £. D. contin- uous from nape nearly to C., without distinct spines; A. similar, shorter; V.I, 5; P. short; C. widely forked. Gill openings wide. No pseudobranchiaj nor air-bladder. Vertebra! more than 24. One genus, with 2 or 8 species; large vigorous fisheB of the open seas. The bright coloration grows pale at death, but the accounts of this change have been much exaggerated. 146. CORYPHiENA (Artedi) Linnmus. (xdpvs, helmet; , to show.) 294. C. hippurus L. Common Dolphin. Dorado. Very bright olive-green, with small round blue spots; V. inserted slightly behind upper ray of P. Head 4|; depth 4£; V. \\ in head; P. 1J. D. 59 to 63. A. 29. L. 3 to 5 feet. Open sea, N. to Cape Cod, abundant S. (onror, horse; oipd, tail.) (7?u.) With the Dolphins, we close the series of fishes having Scombroid affinities, and begin the equally important series of PICRCI- FORMES, those related in some degree to the common Perch. The Perch-like fishes have usually larger and rougher scales than the Scombroids, and the development of the spinous armature of the fins is in general more pronounced. We begin with one of the most aberrant forms, the small Family LX. APHRBDODBRIDa®. (The Pirate Perches.) Body oblong, with thick, depressed head and compressed tail; mouth moderate, the chin projecting; teeth in villiform bands onELASS0MATIDJ5. — LXI. 113 jaws, vomer, and palatines: premaxillary not protractile; maxil- lary simple; preopercle and preorbital serrate; opercle with a spine; bones of skull somewhat cavernous; gill rakers tubercle- like; gill membranes slightly joined to isthmus; no pseudobranchiae ; gills complete. B. 6. Scales strongly ctenoid; no lateral line. Vent anterior, below the preopercle in adult, farther back in young, its position changing by a lengthening of the rectum. Dorsal small, with 3 or 4 spines; anal with 2; ventrals without spine and with seven soft rays (all other perch-like fishes having one spine and five rays); C. rounded. Vertebra; 29. Air bladder large. Pyloric emea 12. One species, a small fish of nocturnal habits, abounding in sluggish grassy lowland streams throughout the Eastern U. S. 147. APHREDODERUS Le Sueur. (ao3or, excrement; S/prj, the throat.) 295. A. sayanua (Gilliams). Pirate Perch. Dark olive, profusely dotted with black; two dusky bars at base of C. Head 3 ; depth 3. D. Ill, 11. A. II, 6. Lat. 1. 48 to 58. L. 6. N. Y. to La., and N. to Minn, and Lake Erie; variable. (To Thomas Say, the entomologist.) Family LXI. ELASSOMATID2E. (The Tiny Perches.) Body oblong, compressed, with large cycloid scales; mouth small; teeth conic, strong, on jaws, a few on vomer; upper jaw very pro- tractile ; opercles entire; gill membranes broadly united, free from the isthmus; gill rakers tubercle-like; lower pharyngeals narrower, with sharp teeth. B. 5. No lateral line; pseudobranchiae rudi- mentary. V. normal (I, 5). Dorsal small, with 4 spines; anal with 3 ; C. rounded. Vertebrae 24. One genus, with two species, E. evergladei Jordan, of Florida, and the following. They in- habit sluggish, lowland waters of the E. U. S., and they are among the smallest of all fishes. 148. EL ASS OM A Jordan. (eXdtrtrojpi, a diminution.) 296. E. zonatum Jordan. Olive green, finely speckled; sides with 11 dark bars; a round black spot on side behind shoulder; fins spotted ; a bar at base of C. Eye large ; mouth small. Head 3 ; depth 3J. D. V, 9. A. Ill, 5. Scales 40-19. L. 1 to l\. S. 111. to Ark. and La., in grassy brooks. (Lat., banded.) Family LXII. CENTRARCHID.33. (The Sun-fibhes.) Body more or less shortened and compressed, so that the regions above and below the axis of the body arc nearly equal and corre- spond to each other. Mouth terminal; teeth small ; premaxillary protractile ; maxillary with a supplemental bone which is sometimes 8114 TELEOSTEI:--ACANTHOPTERI.---XX. minute or obsolete; preopercle entire or nearly so; preorbital deep, not sheathing the maxillary; gill membranes separate, free from isthmus; pseudobranchise small, concealed. B. usually 6 ; lower pharyngeals separate; scales usually large; lateral line present. Dorsal continuous, with 6 to 13 spines; anal spines 3 to 8. Ver- tebrae about 30. Intestines short, with a few caeca. Sexes similar, but the changes in form due to age often considerable. Genera 10; species about 25 ; carnivorous fishes especially characteristic of the Mississippi Valley, — all but one (Archoplites interrupting of Cal.) confined to the waters of the E. U. S. Some species build nests, and all are voracious and gamy. a. Dorsal fin scarcely larger than anal; gill rakers very long and slender. b. Spinous dorsal longer than soft, its spines 12; anal spines about 8. Centrarchus, 149. bb. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft, with 6 to 8 spines; anal spines 6. Pomoxis, 150. aa. Dorsal fin much larger than anal; gill rakers shorter. c. Body comparatively short and deep, the depth usually more than | the length; dorsal fin not deeply divided. d. Tongue and pterygoids with teeth; mouth large (the maxillary reaching past middle of eye), r. Scales ctenoid; caudal concave behind. f. Opercle emarginate behind; anal spines usually 6; branchios- tegals 6...................Ambloplites, 151. ff. Opercle ending in a black convex process or flap; anal spines 3. Ch-snobryttus, 152. ee. Scales cycloid; caudal convex. . . . Acantharchus, 153. dd. Tongue and pterygoids toothless; mouth small (the maxillary barely to middle of eye). g. Caudal con vex; opercle emarginate, without flap. h. Dorsal fin continuous, normally with 9 spines; anal nor- mally with 3 spines......................Enneacaethus, 154. hh. Dorsal fin angulated, some of the median spines elevated; dorsal spines 10; anal 3. . . . Mesogosistius, 155. gg. Caudal margin concave; opercle prolonged behind in a con- vex process or flap which is always black; dorsal spines normally 10; anal 3..................Lepomis, 156. CO. Body comparatively elongate, the depth in adult about $ the length; D. low, deeply emarginate, with 10 spines; mouth large; C. lunate. Micropterus, 157. 149. CENTRARCHUS Cuv. & Val. (xeVrpop, spine; apxos, anus.) 297. C. macropterus Lacepede. Body ovate; fins high. Green, with rows of dark brown spots along sides ; fins reticulated; young with a black ocellus on D. behind. Head 3\; depth 2. Scales 5-44-14. D. XI or XII, 12. A. VII or VIII, 15. L. 6. N. C. to 111., and S., in lowland streams, (paxpor, long; nrepov, fin.)CENTRARCHIDA3. — LXII. 115 150. POMOXIS Rafinesque. (urn/ia, opercle; o£us, sharp.) a. Dorsal spines 7 or 8; A. reticulate, like soft D. i 298. P. sparoides (Lacepede). Calico Bass. Grass-bass. Bar-fish. Strawberry Bass. Body oblong, compressed, the profile comparatively even; fins very high. Silvery olive, much mottled with clear green; vertical fins with green reticulations around pale spots. Head 3; depth 2. D. VII, 15. A. VI, 17. Lat. 1. 41. L. 12. N. J. to Minn, and La.; commonest N. aa. Dorsal spines 6; A. fin whitish, nearly plain. 299. P. annularis Rafinesque. Crappie. Bachelor. New Light. Campbellite. Sac-a-lai. Profile more or less distinctly S-shaped, the nape gibbous, the head depressed, the snout project- ing ; mouth very large. Silvery olive, mottled with dark green. Head 3; depth 2J-. D. VI, 15. A. VI, 18. Lat. 1. about 40. L. 12. Variable. Miss. Valley, in quiet waters, common S. (Lat., ringed.) 151. AMBLOPLITES Rafinesque. (dp/3\ur, blunt; onXiTrjs, armed.) 300. A. rupestris (Rafinesque). Rock Bass. RedEye. Gog- gle-eye. Body oblong; eye very large. Olive green, sides brassy, much mottled with dark green; young with blackish bars; adult with rows of dark spots along sides ; iris red. Head 2|; depth 2. D. XI, 10. A. VI, 10. Scales 5-40-12. L. 12. Vt. to Manitoba, S. to La. and N. C., common W. (Lat., living among rocks.) 152. CHiENOBRYTTUS Gill. (xatVm, to yawn; Brytlus i. e. Lepornis.) 301. C. gulosus (Cuv. & Val). War-mouth. Red-eyed Bream. Body oblong, robust; eye moderate. Olive green, sides brassy with blotches of bluish, greenish, and copper-red; cheeks with 3 or 4 dark bands; fins dusky, mottled; a dark spot on last D. rays; young barred; some specimens with rows of dark spots on sides. Head 2J; depth 21. D. X, 10; A. IH, 9. Scales 6^0-12. L. 10. L. Michigan to Va. and Texas, abundant S. in sluggish waters. Northern specimens are deeply colored, the adult with blue and copper-red; the D. is usually a trifle farther forward, over opercular spot; this is var. antistius McKay. (Lat. big-mouthed.) 153. ACANTHARCHTJS Gill. (5icavda, spine; dpyor, anus.) 302. A/pomotis (Baird). Mud Sun-fish. Form of the Rock Bass. Dark-green, with 2 or 3 faint dusky longitudinal stripes; cheeks with dark oblique bands; fins plain. Head 2-|; depth 2. D. XI, 10. A. V, 10. Scales 6-43-12. L. 6. Hudson R. to N. C. in sluggish streams coastwise. (Pomolis = Lepomis.)116 TELEOSTEI: ACANTHOPTEEI. — XX. 154. ENNEACANTHUS Gill. (Ivvia, nine; aicavda, spine.) a. Depth usually more than half length; opercular spot large, more than half eye. 303. E. obesus (Baird). Olivaceous, -with 5 to 8 distinct dark cross-bars; spots on body and fins golden or purplish; cheek with lines and spots; a dark bar below eye; cheek with 4 rows of scales ; lateral line usually incomplete; fins moderate, spine of V. not reaching vent. Head 2$; depth If. D. IX, 10. A. HI, 10. Scales 4-32-10. L. 4. Mass, to Fla., common coastwise. (Lat., fat.) aa. Depth usually less than half length; opercular flap small, bordered with pearly and blue. 304. E. simulans (Cope). Dark olive, young faintly barred ; a dark bar below eye; g with head, body and vertical fins with round sky-blue spots; 9 duller, with lower fins and larger, faint spots; lateral line usually complete. Head 2|; depth 2f. D. IX, 10. A. Ill, 9. Scales 3-30-9. L. 5. N. J. to S. C., com- mon coastwise; (number of spines sometimes variable). (Lat., resembling.) 305. E. eriarchus (Jordan). Olivaceous; vertical fins with round pale spots; lateral line incomplete; fins very large, espe- cially A., which is reached by the ventral spines; scales on cheek, in 3 rows. Head 2f; depth 2\. D. X, 9. A. IV. 8 (in typical example probably abnormal). Scales 4-33-10. L. 3. Wis. to Mo.; two specimens known, (cpi, an intensive particle; apxos, anus.) 155. MESOGONISTIUS Gill, (peeror, middle; yavia, angle; ttTTiov, sail.) 306. M. chsetodon (Baird). Body suborbicular, the mouth very small, the fins high. Straw-color, with dark clouds; 6 to 8 irregular, sharply-defined black bars across body and fins, the first bar through eye. Head 3; depth If. D. X, 10. A. 111,12. Scales 4-28-10. L. 3. N. J. to Md., in sluggish streams; hand- somest of the sun-fishes. (A genus of fishes.) 156. feBBGSHS Rafinesque. Sun-Fishes. (Ichthelis, Pomotis, and Apomotis Rafinesque.) (A large genus, one of the most difficult in our fauna, as the species are subject to great individual variations, especially with age. On the other hand the numbers of scales and fin-rays are essentially alike in all, and nearly all the distinctive characters are subject to intergradation. The spines are generally higher in the young, while the “ ear-flap ” is fully developed only in the adult.) (\c7riSj scale ; ww/ia, opercle.)centrarchida:. — lxii. 117 a Lower pharyngeals narrow, the teeth not paved. b. Pharyngeal teeth all, or nearly all, slender and acute. c. Supplemental maxillary well developed; palatine teeth present; gill rakers comparatively stiff and strong. (Apomotis Rafinesque.) d. Scales rather small, more than 40 in lateral line, e. D. and A. in adult, with a conspicuous black spot at base of last ray. 307. L. cyanellus (Rafinesque). Green Sun-fish. Body oblong, the back not elevated; mouth large, the maxillary nearly to middle of eye; dorsal spines low, about equal to snout; oper- cular flap short, with pale margin. Green, with brassy lustre, each scale with a blue spot and gilt edging; fins largely blue, A. edged with orange; iris red; cheeks with blue stripes. Head 3 ; depth 2|. D. X, 11. A. Ill, 9. Lat. 1. 48. L. 7. Great Lakes to Ga. and Mexico ; very abundant in small brooks, especially S.; very variable, (auai/or, dark-blue.) ^ee. D. and A. without black spot. 308. JJi. phenax (Cope & Jordan). Body rather deep; mouth small, the maxillary to middle of eye; opercular spot longer than eye. Plain olive green; scales 6-43-14. L. 16. N. J. (rfievag, false.) d(L Scales rather large, less than 40 in lateral line. 309. % symmetricus Forbes. Body short, deep; mouth mod- erate. Dark green, sides with 10 vertical bars; dorsal in 9 with black ocellus on last ray; cheek not striped; opercular spot higher than long; spines low. Head 2f; depth 1 J. Scales 6-34-14. L. ‘2|. 111. to La., not rare; a neat and very small species. cc. Supplemental maxillary reduced to a slight rudiment; the mouth small, the palatine teeth few or none. d. Gill rakers stiff, not very short. (Lepomis.) c. Opercular flap short, little larger than eye, even in adult. 310. L. ischyrus Jordan & Nelson. Body robust, mouth large, the maxillary to middle of eye; profile depressed above eye ; scales on cheek in 6 rows ; opercular flap broad, with a broad pale edge. Dusky, mottled with blue and orange; cheeks with wide blue bands; a dark spot on D. and A. behind. Head 2§; depth 2)-. Scales 5-46-14. L. 7. HI. R.; only the type known. (tu«, body.124 TELEOSTEI: ACANTHOPTERI. — XX. j. Scales about 5-50-9; D. IX-12; lateral line often incomplete behind; fins moderate. ^26.^ nigrum Rafinesque. “Johnny.” Body slender, fusi- form ; snout somewhat decurved; mouth small, sub-inferior; pale olive, back speckled with brown; sides with numerous W-shaped blotches; males in spring dusky anteriorly, sometimes entirely black. Head 4^; depth 5. D. IX-12. A. I, 8. Vert. 15 -f- 22 = 37. L. 2^. Dakota to W. Penn, and Mo., very abundant in small brooks. (Boleosoma maculatum Agassiz.) yy. Scales about 5-40-6; dorsal rays IX-13; lateral line complete; fins very high. 327. E. effulgens (Girard). Snout much decurved; brown, with 9 spots on side; fins black; 2d D. and C. with white specks. Head 4|; depth 5^. L. 2^. Penn, to N. C., probably a variety of B. nigrum. (JB.cesopus Cope; D. VII-14.) (Lat., shining.) hh. Soft dorsal with 10 or 11 rays. i. Cheeks naked; opercles scaly; scales 4-35-6. 328. E. vexillare Jordan. Body rather stout; nape naked; snout decurved; fins very high; £ dusky olive, faintly barred; 2d D. and C. with pale spots; other fins mostly black. Head 4; depth 5. D. VIII-10. A. I, 7. L. 2J. Rappahannock R., Va., one specimen known. (L., bearing a standard.) ii. Cheeks and opercles wholly naked; scales in lateral line 45. 329. E. susanse (Jordan & Swain). Very slender; head short and small, the snout decurved; head, nape, breast, and middle of belly naked ; fins low. Color of E. nigrum. Head 4^; depth 6£. D. VIII-10. A. I, 8. L. 2. Cumberland R., abundant in S. Ky. (To Mrs. Susan Bowen Jordan.) gg. Lateral line ceasing near middle of body. (Vaillantia1 2 Jordan.) 330. E. chlorosoma (Hay). Body slender, with long tail; back somewhat elevated; mouth small, inferior, the snout strongly de- curved ; cheeks, opercles and breast scaly, nape naked; fins small. Olivaceous, the back spotted; about ten dark spots on sides; a dark opercular spot; head spotted above; D. and C. barred. Head 4 J ; depth 5^. D. X-10. A. 1, 8. Scales 5-56-10. Vert. 38. L. 2). HI. to Ala. and Ark., common S. W. (Boleosoma camurum Forbes). (j^Xo>por, green ; erwpa, body.) ff. Anal spines two, well developed, the first usually the longer. m. Gill membranes more or less broadly united; belly with ordinary scales. n. Maxillary normal, free from the preorbital. (TJlocentra 2 Jordan.) 1 To Leon Vaillant, author of a monograph of the Darters. 2 ov\os, complete ; Kevrpov, spine.PERCIDA1.---LXIII. 125 381. E. slmoterum (Cope). Body short and deep ; head small, the snout very obtuse; cheeks, opercles and breast scaly. Oliva- ceous ; back and sides each with a series of quadrate, blackish green blotches; belly saffron; upper parts with red spots; 1 st D. with red spots and orange-red edge; 2d D. largely red; C. brown, barred; male in spring with head and fins largely dusky. Head 4$; depth 4. D. X-ll. A. H, 7. Scales 10-52-12. Yert. 38. L. 3. Tennessee and Cumberland basins. (Ulocentra alripinnis Jordan.) (o-ipds, snub-nosed.) nn. Maxillary adnate to the preorbital for most of its length, and there- fore nearly immovable; mouth very small, inferior; no teeth on vomer. (Diplesion1 Rafinesque.) 332. E. blennioides Rafinesque. Green-sided Darter. Body elongate, little compressed, the head thick, its profile very convex; eyes large, high up, close together; cheeks, opercles and neck scaly; breast naked; spines strong. Olive green, mottled above; sides with 8 double transverse bars, each pair forming a Y-shaped figure of a deep green color; sides with orange dots; fins blue green, marked with orange red; 9 duller. Head 4^; depth 4f. D. XIII-13. A. H, 8. Lat. 1. 65 to 78. Yert. 42. L. 5. Penn, to Ala. and Kans., common, one of the prettiest of the darters. (Blennius, «3os, like.) mm. Gill membranes scarcely connected; anal usually not smaller than second D. o. Belly with enlarged scales on middle line; these falling off, leaving a naked strip. (Cottogaster 2 Putnam.) 333. E. copelandi (Jordan). Body slender; head large, nar- rowed in front; mouth small, subinferior, the snout decurved; cheeks and breast naked; opercles and nape with few scales. Pale olive, speckled above, a series of horizontally oblong black blotches along lateral line; fins somewhat barred, dusky in <£ ; a black spot on front of first D. Head 4^; depth 5^. D. XI-10. A. II, 9. Lat. 1. 56. Vert. 18 20 = 38. L. 2J. White R., Ind., to Ark. (To the late Herbert Edson Copeland, the discoverer of the species, and one of the most careful and enthusiastic students of these fishes.) 334. E. putnami (Jordan & Gilbert). Close to the preceding, but with larger scales; lateral spots quadrate; spinous D. with a dusky band. Head 4 ; depth 6. D. XI-11. A. II, 8. Lat 1. 44 to 48. L. 2J. L. Champlain to L. Huron. (To Frederick Ward Putnam.) oo. Belly with ordinary scales posteriorly, its anterior part naked. (Imostoma 3 Jordan.) q. P. extremely long, 11 times length of head, reaching front of A. i fits, two ; ir\r)triov, near, i. e. nearly two dorsals. * Cottus, •yowrnjp, belly. 8 el/u, to move : oro/xa, moutb.126 TELEOSTEI: ACANTHOPTERI. — XX. 335. E. longimane Jordan. Body moderately slender; head long, bluntish anteriorly, profile of snout steep and nearly straight; mouth moderate, included; maxillary to front of eye; cheeks nearly or quite naked; opercles somewhat scaly, nape naked; dorsals very high; A. spines small. Olivaceous, with 5 dark cross-shades; a dark spot at base C., fins nearly plain. Head 4 ; depth 5. D. IX orX-12orl3. A. II, 8. Scales 6-43-7. L. 2^. James R., Ya. (Lat., longux, long; manus, hand.) qq. P. moderate, not reaching A. 336. E. shumardi (Girard). Body robust; head broad and thick; mouth large, scarcely inferior; cheeks, opercles and nape scaly; breast naked; fins all large. Dark olive, blotched with darker ; sides with 8 to 10 vague bars ; a small black spot on front of spinous D.; a large one behind; fins barred; suborbital stripe large, black. Head 3f ; depth 5. D. X, 15. A. II, 11. Scales 6-56-11. L. 3. Wabash K. to Ark., in larger streams. (To Dr. George C. Shumard.) ee. Premaxillaries not protractile (the skin of the middle of the upper jaw continuous with that of the forehead). p. Cranium broad between the eyes; snout conic, pig-like, projecting be- yond the inferior mouth; ventral line with a series of larger scales which fall off, leaving a naked strip; dorsal spines 13 to 15; gill membranes separate; scales small; vertebrae 23 + 21 = 44. (Per- , ' . cina1 Ilaldeman.) 337. E. caprodes Rafinesque. Log Perch. Hog-fish. Crawl-a-bottom. Body elongate; fins rather low; cheeks and opercles scaly. Yellowish green with about 15 dark cross-bands, these usually alternating with shorter and fainter bands; a black spot at base of C.; fins barred. Head 4; depth 6. D. XV-15. A. II, 9. Lat. 1. 92. L. 6 to 8. Great Lakes to Va., Ala., and Texas, abundant, the largest of the darters, and the one most nearly allied to the Perch and similar fishes. N. and E. occurs var. zebra Agassiz, with nape naked, etc.; the ordinary form is scaly, ((cdn-por, the wild boar ; eifioc, like.) pp. Cranium not broad between the eyes; mouth less inferior, the snout usually not projecting much beyond it. r. Ventral line with the median series of scales more or less enlarged or (if these are fallen) with a naked strip; anal fin large; lateral line complete. s. Palatine teeth present; dorsal spines 11 to 15. q. Preopercle strictly entire; gill membranes scarcely united across isthmus. (Alvordius s Girard.) t. Cheeks and opercles wholly naked ; head large and long. 338. E. macrocephalum Cope. Body slender; head eel-like; maxillary reaching eye. Brown, back with dark quadrate spots; 1 Dim. of Perea. a To General Benjamin Alvord, U. S. APERCIM?. LX III. 127 sides with 9 blackish oblong spots, alternating with smaller ones; fins mottled; 1st D. with median dark band. Head 3-J ; depth 7. D. XV-13. A. II, 11. Scales 11-77-15. L. 3. Ohio Valley, rare W. (pa with yellowish interspaces; in g deep blue-green, the interspaces yellow with copper-red blotches; throat, cheeks, upper fins, and two spots at base C., largely orange; A. and V. chiefly blue-black; fins not barred; a black spot on last D. spines; 9 with paler colors. Head 4^; depth 5J-. D. XI-11. A. 11,8. Scales^ 9-65-9. Vert. 40. L. 3. Ind. to Iowa and Ark; one of the most brilliant of the darters. (euetSijr, comely.) rr. Ventral line covered with ordinary scales, which are never shed in life. v. Lateral line complete2 (with rare exceptions; see E. niangua). w. Anal fin large,2 little if any smaller than the soft dorsal. x. Gill membranes nearly 2 separate from each other. (Hadropte- rus 3 Agassiz.) y. Scales very small, lat. 1. about 85. 344. E. aurantiaoum (Cope). Elongate; snout longer than eye ; lower jaw included ; cheeks and opercles scaly; throat smooth. Golden brown, a series of small round brown spots traversed by a black lateral band which extends around snout; yellow below ; fins plain. Head 4^; depth 6. D. XV-15. A. II, 11. L. 4^. Upper Tenn. B,. (Lat., orange.) yy. Scales moderate, lat. 1. 55 to 75. 345. E. cymatotaenia Gilbert & Meek. Body robust; head short, the snout short and slender; mouth small, oblique, included; maxillary nearly to front of eye; eye large, 4 in head; cheeks, opercles, nape and breast with large scales; preopercle entire; gill membranes narrowly joined, the degree of union variable, usually very slight; 1st A. spine long and strong; P. short. Greenish, with fine dark points; two pale streaks along sides, below the lower a broad dusky wavy band; a small black spot at base C.; fins trans- 1 3p, spring-time ; Kotr/xlu, to adorn. * These characters are none of them of high importance and are subject to some variations. 3 aSpos, strong; nrepdv, fin.PERCH) AS. — LXin. 129 lucent, with dark lines. Head 4^: depth 5 D. XII to XIV- 13. A. II, 10. Seales 7-64 to 70-12. L. 4. Ozark region, S. Mo. (xupa, wave; raivla, band.) 346. E. nianguse Gilbert & Meek. Body elongate, terete; head very long and slender, the snout deep and narrow, vertically rounded at tip; mouth large, maxillary beyond front of orbit; eye shorter than snout, 5| in head; cheeks with a few rudimentary scales; opercles and breast naked; nape scaled; A. rather smaller than 2d D.; 1st A. sp. short. Olivaceous, the back with 8 to 10 wide dusky cross-bars, which extend on sides; $ with the dark bars encircling body; back and sides with carmine-red spots in the pale interspaces, most numerous in $ ; two black spots at base C.; 1st D. dusky, spotted with red, and with red edge; other fins mostly mottled with red. Head 3|; depth 6. D. XI or XII-13 or 14. A. II, 11 or 12. Scales 11-74-16. L. 3f. Niangua R., S. Mo. Var. spilotum Gilbert, from Kentucky R. is similar, but with the scales much larger (lat. 1. 58 to 60), and the lateral line incomplete. xx. Gill membranes more or less broadly united, n. Scales very small, 10-82-18; preopercle entire. 347. E. squamatum Gilbert & Swain. Body elongate, the head long and slender, the snout long-acuminate; mouth long and nar- row, the lower jaw included; maxillary to front of eye; eye moder- ate; 1st D. low; A. high, its spines strong; cheeks, breast, nape, and opercle scaly; an enlarged black humeral scale. Yellow-olive, with 10 broad dusky bars on back, and 10 dark blotches along sides; a small black spot at base C.; 1st D. pale, with broad, orange band ; 2d D. and C. barred with dusky and orange. Head 3|; depth 5J. D. XIV-13. A. II, 10. L. 4. French Broad R. (Lat., scaly.) zz. Scales large, 8-51-9 ; mouth small, low, horizontal (transition to “ Nanostoma"). (Pcecilichthys1 Agassiz.) 348. E. variatum Kirtland. Body rather robust, the head short and thick, with short blunt snout, the anterior profile convex; eyes large, 3| in head; maxillary to front of eye (4 in head); top of head rugose; head almost naked; nape and breast scaled; fins all very large; A. large, a little smaller than soft D.; P. reaching front of A.; g dusky greenish, finely punctate; belly and sides orange yellow; posterior part of body with 5 orange bands; 1st D. with dark blue band; 2d D., A. and P. blue-black, shaded with orange; 9 paler. Head 3|; depth 4|. D. XIII -13. A. II, 9. L. 4. Ohio Valley, scarce. (Lat., variegated.) ww. Anal fin rather small, notably smaller than soft dorsal. ci. Gill membranes broadly united across the isthmus; mouth small, sub- inferior. (Nanostoma2 Putnam.) 1 rrouaAos, variegated ; ix^hfc* fish. 3 foposj small;