ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSISs oR NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FISHES INTIAGITING THE RIVER ONO AND ITS TRIBUTARY STREAMS, Preceded by a physical description of the Ohio and its branches. or BY C..S; RAFINESQUE, Professor of Botany and Natural History in Transylvania University, Au- '. thor of the Analysis of Nature, &c. &c. Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York, the Historical Society of New-York, the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the American Antiquarian Society, the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences of Naples, the Italian Society of Arts and Sciénces, the Medical Societies of Lexington and Cincinnatt, Xt. Ke. nn ener mn ne) The art of seeing well, or of noticing Gnd distinguishing with accuracy the objects which we percetee, is a high facutiy of the mind, unfolded in few pndividuals, and despised by those who can neiiher acquire it, nor appreciate tts resnits, ——mt > eae j/ - 3 13 LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY: 7° PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY W. G. HUNT, (PRICZ oeIBRAR a i 1820, these Pages “the Discoveries which they contain in one of the principal Branches of Natural History, are respectfally Inkcribed by the Author; To his fellow-labourers i in the same field of Science: _ Prof. Sanven lL. Mrrcnms, MODE. who has deserted the Atlantic c Fishes of New York, Coal anne bad Seer" ~ - and to C. A. Le Suevr, who was the first to explore the Ichthyology of the,» : Great American Lakes, &c: _ In Token eS sige So rape of Friendship, 2 Respect and Congratulation, = ti Ree +g SQ we em fee um on hipaa ogc teeter te oe mee — ate are NATURAL HUSTORY OF THF FISHES OF THE OHIO RIVER .AND ITS TRIBUTARY STREAMS, BY C. S. RAFINESQUE, Professor of Botany and Natural History in-Transylvania University. INTRODUCTION. Nobody had ever paid any correct attention to the fishes of this beautiful river;-nor indeed of the whole immense basin, which empties its water into the Mississippi, and hardly . twelve species of them had ever been properly named and des- cribed, when in 1818 and 1819, I undertook the labour of.col- Jecting, observing, describing,and delineating those of the Ohio. I succeeded the first year in ascertaining nearly eighty species among them, and this year I added about twenty more, making altogether about .one hundred species of fish,-whereof. nine tenths are.new and undescribed. - Many of them have compelled me to establish new genera, since they could not properly be united with any former genus; and I could have increased their number, had I been inclined, as will be seen in the course of this ichthyology; but I have in many instances proposed sub-genera and sections instead of new genera... I sent last spring to Mr. Blaimville of Paris, a short account of some of them, to ke published in his Journal of Natural History, ina Tract named Prodromue of seventy new genera of Animals and fifty new genera of Plants from Worth America, and I now propose to publish a complete ac- count ofall the species I have discovered. I am confident that they do not include the whole number existing in the Ohio, much less in the MESSED, but as they will offer a great 2 6 proportion of them, and, as the additional species may be grad- ually described in supplements, I venture to introduce them to the acquaintance of the American and European naturalists; being confident that they will not be deemed an inconsiderable addition to our actual knowledge ofthe finny tribes. To the inhabitants of the western states, to those who feed daily upon them, their correct and scientific account ought to be peculi- arly agreeable. hey will value the cxertions through which I have bee 0 accomplish so much in 80 short a uld induce them to lend me their aid, in the succession of my studies of those animals, by comMmunpicating-new facts, details, andrare species. I may_as- sure them that their kind help shall be gratefully received and acknowledged. The science of Ichthyology has lately received great additions in the United States. A few of the atlantic fishes had been for- merly enumerated by Catesby, Kalm, Forstcr,Garden, Linnzus Schoepf, Castiglione, Bloch, Bosc, and Lacepede; but Dr. Sam- uel L—Mitchell has increased our knowledge, with about one shundred new species-at once, in his two memoirs on the Fishes of New-York, the first published in 1814, in the. Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York, and the second in the American Monthly Magazine in 1817. Mr. Le- sueur_was_the first naturalist who visited Lake Erie and _ Ontario, where he detected a great number of acw ds which he has already begun to publish in the Journal : A-. cademy of Sciences.of Philadelphia, and-which he. means to in- troduce. in his General. History of American. Fishes, a work on thegplan2of Wilson’s Ornithology, which he has long had in ‘contemplation:.» And:I have added thereto about forty new spe- «cies, which-I discovered in. Lake Champlain, Lake George, the Chesapeake, the Hudson, near New-York, Philadelphia, the ‘Atlantic, kc. and published'in my Precis des Decouvertes, my Memoirs. on Sturgeons, my decads and tracts in the Amer- ican: Monthly Magazine, the American Journal of Science, .&c, besides three. new fishes of the Ohio, published in the Journal oftheAcademy of Philadelphia. . . .... —-Many -other fishes of the United States have heomagiastedlly i te y described by Bartram, Carver, Lewis and Clarke and other tra- vellers. It is reasonable to suppose that several others have es. caped their notice, and my discoveries in the Ohio prove this assertion. I calculate that we know at present about five hun- dred species of North American fishes, while ten years ago wé hardly knew one hundred and twenty. Among that number a- bout one half are fresh water fishes, and one fourth at least be« long to the waters of the western states; but, althou gh there are fifty other species imperfectly known, I should not wander far from reality if I should conjecture that, after all, we merely know one third of the rcal numbers, when we consider that the whole ofthe Mexican Provinces is a blank in Ichthyology, as well as California, the North West Coast, the Northern Lakes, and all the immense bason of the Missouri and Mississippi, except the eastern branch of the Ohio: all those regions having never been explored by any real naturalists. From those who are actually surveying the viver Missouri much may be expected; but I ven- ture to foretell that many of the fishes of the Ohio will be tound common to the greatest part of the streams communicating with it, and therefore throughout the Mississippi and Missouri, whence the ichthyology of the Ohio, will be a pretty accurate specimen of the swimming tribes of all the western waters; while in Mexico, the North West Coast, and in the basin of the St. Lawrence or even in the Floridian waters, a total differ_ ence of inhabitants may be detected: since I have already ascer tained that out of one hundred species of Ohio. fishes, there are hardly two similar to thosc of the atlantic streams. P I have in contemplation to visit many other western’ streams and lakes, where I have no doubt to reap many plentiful har- vests of other new animals; meantime communications on the fishes of every western stream are solicited from those, who may be able and willing to furnish them. It is. probable that some of the fishes ofthe Mississippi are anadromic or come annually from the gulf of Mexico to spawn in that stream andits lower branches; but all the fishes of the Ohio remain permanently in it, or at utmost travel down the Mississippi during the winter, although the greatest pro- portion dwell during that season in the deep spots of the Ohie 8 This is proved by their early appearance ai the same time in all the parts of the river and even as high as Pittsburgh. This happens even with the Sturgeons and Herrings of the Ohio, which are in other countries periodical fishes, travelling annd- ally from the sea to the rivers in the spring, and from the rivers to the sea in the fall. Fishes are very abundant in the Ohio, and are taken atte? times by thousands ‘OF them.are salted; bit eS a8 in the ‘gtedt lakes. “hi Pittsburgh; Cia. cintiati, Louisville, &c. fish always meets a good market, atid sells often higher thai meat; but at a distance from those towns you may buy the best fish at the rate of ohe or two éents the pound. It affords excellent food, and, if not eqtial tothe best sea fish, it comes very near it, being much above the com- mon river fish of Europe: the most delicate fishes are the Salition-perch; the Bubblér, the Buffaloe-fish,the Sturgeons; thé Carfishes, &e.- Tt is “not tniastiat tO fieét such fishes of the weight of thirty to ote ‘fuidted potas, and some offes are octasionally caught, df double that Weight. The mést ‘usual thanters of Catching fist if tlié Ohio are; with seines oF harpodfis at hight ahd“in shallow Water, ‘with boats alse a light, or with the liooks and lines, and even with baskets” Tam sorty to be compelled to delay the publication of my figures of all thé fishes now described: these delineationd SW@t appéat at another period. To facilitate the knowledge of the sireaths | fix a physical description of the Ohio and its printipal branches, enn, Kentutky, 15th Movember, _ oe at psa Seaieie C238 ob GH-<“¥: Go aolieonrs eda. a > 10 2tgeg RIVER aiie. “Heap. It is formed by thé junction of the rivers Alleghany “an Monongahela, in Pennsylvania; at Pit‘sburgh, near the 404 ‘déSree Of Horth latitude. It is difficdlt to ey Which of théWis the main branch or stream, the Alleghany beiig” the - longest andinthe most direct course, while the Monongahela appears to be the fargest-at the junction, and to have similar waters. im Se eeeee NE ne LLP AR TOOT OL IPQ I OT a Q Direction. Although the Ohio is exceedingly crooked in its course, its gencral direction is south west and West south west: it assumes every other direction; but very seldom the » opposite one, N. E. Mourn. It empties into the Mississippi, near the 37th de- grec of latitude, dividing the state of Kentucky from that of Il- linois, which lies north. Conxrotions. The Ohio is one of the principal branches of the Mississippi, and properly its great eastern branch. The two great western branches, the Arkansas, which is about 1800 English miles long, and the Red River, which measures about 1600 miles, exceed it in length, but not in size,nor inthe number of tributary streams; nor in the extent of their basins. The northern branch or upper Mississippi is much inferior to it in all respects (it is only 775 miles long, and receives only séven large rivers, ) although it has been mistaken for the main branch. The real main branch is the Missouri, which takes the name of Mississippi after its junction with the upper,Mississippi. It flows 2700 English miles above that junction, receiving thirty-three rivers above 100 miles long, and 1300 miles below, receiving twelve such rivers, having a total course of 4000 miles and forty five large branches. It is yet undecided whether the Yellow Stone or the Western Missouri is the principal upper branch. Leneti. From Pittsburgh to the mouth, it is 500 geograph- ic miles in a direct course (60 to a degree) and 960 in the reg- ular course, equal to | 120 English milés, (of 694 to a degree;) but if the Monongahela be deemed the main upper branch, the whole course will be 1360 English miles, while if the Allega- ny be considered as such, the whole length of the Ohio will be found equal to 1405 such miles. Apsacencigs. It flows through Pennsylvania as far as Mill creek below Georgetown; it divides afterwards the state of Ohio, which lie on the right bank from Virginia; this state extends on the left bank as far as Sandy river, where Kentucky begins, and it occupies the remainder of the left bank, as far as the Mississippi. While the state of Ohio terminates on the north side at the Miami river: the state of Indiana follows as far as 40 the Wabash river, and from thence. the. state of Illinois ex- tends to the mouth. . Parrs. The Ohio is naturally divided into three parts, con- taining each two sections, the head branches Alleghany and Monongahela form: the. two. sections of the first part. The se- cond or upper part lies between their junctions and the ills, being divided into two sections by Letart’s rapids; while thé third.or lower part in space, b the falls, the first ni ates at the end of the pale ai above y in Indie 5 ‘and_ e second which includes the ‘broad and at valleys reaches to the the mouth. The upper part of the xiver is the longest, being about seyen hundred miles long, __ Breapru. At Pittsburgh the Ohiois about one nario, of a mile wide; above the falls and near the mouth. it is over one mile: its average breadth may be reckoned at half a mile or rather two.thousand five hundred feet. = sq Derren... Very variable according to places and times. ae mean depth at Tow. water. may. be reckoned. at. three high wates at about thirty feet. . Average medium teen feet. -Nexociry.. The current of the Ohio is. generally gentle, ex- cept at the falls a and ripples. Its average at low water may be stated at two miles an hour and at high ‘water at four miles 7 an hour. »Buis... The quantity of waters flowing in the Ohio may be therefore calculated, upon a general medium. of the above breadth, depth, and velocity, at about forty millions of cubic feet, during an hour at low water, and at more thar ynillions of such feet at high, water. Average medium three dundredand eighty 3 millions vin in hour, 1 nine thousand one hun- dred and twenty millionsin a day, and more than three millioris of millions of feet inone year, _ anes Waters. They are slightly turbid, and become much more s0.in the rises. Ata low stage they are almost clear, and at alt times very salubrious. The Monongahela has the Same charac. ter, while the Alleghany is almost perfectly clear. The turbdidi- ty,of the waters is produced by very fine particles of earthy m e dissolved i in it, and which are not easily deposited, un- 1e88 at high water, when mud and carth become Mixéd With them. 0 nea yer _. 3% Vauiey. The Ohio flows inanarrowvalley as far as Utica, as bove Louisville. This valley averages about one mile in breadth, and about three hundred feet indepth, but in seme parts it is nearly five hundred teet deep, There are evident proofs that the river has formerly filledit. The sides are formed by steep cliffs and hills of sandstone as far as Vanceburg and the knobs below the mouth of the Scioto; beyond which all the strata are of limestone. Beyond those cliffs the country is broken, but much raised above the bottom of the Ohio Valley. The river meanders through it, leaving on each side, or only on one side, a level tract of alluvial.and deep soil, which are called d0ttome and were once the bed of the river. _ The cliffs correspond to- gether, keeping at a equal distance, and every salient angle or elbow has an opposite bend. Below Utica and as far as Ot- ter creek below Salt river begins the site of an ancient Lake, forming now a plain, which is about twenty-five miles tong and ten-miles broad; the falls are situated in the middle of it: the silver hills bound it to the west, the knobby hills to the east and -the barren hills to the south. Immediately below it are the narrows of Otter creek, where the valley begins again; but-is not larger than at Pittsburgh, being hardly halfa mile wide and the river is less than one thousand. feet across. They both ex- pand gradually until they reach the rocky narrows above Troy, where the valley, after being contracted to three fourths of a mile, while the ‘river is nearly half a mile broad, expands at ence into a low country or broad valley, (the river being often ene mile wide) which was formerly a second’ lake, extending -about one hundred miles to Cave-hill narrows, with a variable breadth of four to twenty miles; only a few bluffs appearing oc- casionally on the banks, and the boundary hills being only one hundred and fifty feet high on an average. At Caye-hillor Cave in the rock, the river, from a mule broad, becomes at once very narrow, and the hills come very near the banks on both sides, forming a short narrows, below which stands another plain, which was once a third Lake, about twelve miles long and six miles wide: it ends at Grand Pierre creek, and the broad narrows between the north and south bluffs. Here begins the lowest part_of the Ohio Valley, which grows wide gradually 12 and extends as far as the Mississippi, being from six to twenty miles wide and bounded by hills one hundred feet high on an average, and with very few stones. Basin. The basin of a river, must not be mistaken for its yalley, since it includes the whole regions watered by the streams flowing into it. The basin of Ohio is very extensive, including the greater share of the states of Kentucky, Tennes- see, Ohio, and Indiana, with parts of Pennsylvania, New-York, Virginia, Alabame-atidTltaeis, _and a small corner of North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi, watering therefore twelve states ofthe Union. It occupies eight degrees of latitude from the thirty-fourth to the forty-second degrees, and about twenty-_ six degrees of longitude. Its whole surface includes at least halfa million of square miles, and three hundred and twenty millions of square acres. Isuanps. The Ohio has a great many, about one hundred and thirty; they are commonly long and narrow. Some sand- bars, lying in the middle of the river, are Aisin oa islands; most of them are overflowed at the high waters. There are very few ancient islands, forming now insulated hills; I have detected however halfa dozen, the first of which lies just below Pittsburgh on the right bank. er Bars. They are very common, are gencrally sand bars, and lie on one side or round the islands, very few stretch across the river: they produce ripples or a broken current. Some of them have hardly six inches of water, at the low stage of the river. _ Cuaxnezs. The current of the Ohio is digging another bed, deeper than the actual one, which forms the real channel of ~“Davigation _. FISHES OF THE OHIO. * Frrst PART. THORACIC FISHES. Having complete gills, with a gill cover, and a branchialmem. brane. Lower or ventral fins situated on the breast or thor ax under the pectoral or lateral fins. 1 Genus. Peron. Perrca. pas. = ody elliptical, scaly; Head without scales, mouth large, j jaw, eaeaete teeth, gill cover with a serrate preopercul, Denti aa i a 31 and a’spiny opercule; two dorsal fins, the first with spiny rays, the second with soft rays. Vent posterior. ; This genus was very badly defined by Linneus, Shaw, Bloch, and Mitchell; the above characters are now precise and apply to all the species that ought to. remain in it, answering to the genus of Lacepedeand the subgenus of Cuvier, bearing the same name. All the species belonging to it are voracious and prey ‘Onsmaller fishes. There are only few species in the Ohio, which afford an excellent food. Ist Species. Sarmon Percu. Perca Salmonea. Perche Sau- monee. Jaws nearly equal, one spine on the opercule and another at the base of the pectoral fins: body lengthened, breadth oné ninth of the length, brownish above, with gilt shades, white beneath first dorsal fin with fourteen rays, second with twenty, tail fork ed, all the fins spotted; lateral line diagonal and slightly curved. A fine fish, from one to three feet long; it is one of the best afforded by the Ohio, its flesh is esteemed a delicacy, being white, tender, and well flavoured, whence the name of Salmon was givento it, and its shape which is nearly~cylindrical and slightly compressed, with the head and jaws somewhat similar to those of the Salmons, has induced many to consider it areal Salmon, although its fins and gill covers are quite different. It has received the vulgar names of Salmon, White Salmon, and Ohio Salmon. It is nota common fish, but is occasionally caught all over the Ohio and in the Kentucky, Licking, Wa- bash, and Miami rivers during the spring and summer; it ap- pears at Pittsburgh sometimes as early as February, while it win- ters in deep waters. It feeds on Chubs, Minnows, Suckers, &e. It is not often caught with the hook, but easily taken with the gig and seine. Ithas the back and sides gilt by patches, the head variegated with small gilt spots above and quite white beneath. The eyes are large, prominent and brown, situated above the corners of the mouth and surrounded with a gilt brown iris. The two dorsal fins are widely apart, the first ray of the first dorsal fin is short, the segond dorsal fin is slightly fal- cate, they are both yellow as well as the tail and with brown spots, the other fins are pale yellowish with only a few brown C — PP} dlotts. The rays are, in the anal 12, wherein the first is shor, and spiny, thoracic 6, the first hardly spiny, pectoral 14, can. dal 20. The whole fish is covered with very small scales, and the lateral line begins above the opercule: the second spine out- side of the opercule is remarkable. 2d Species. Goipren-ryes Peron. Perca chrysofis. Perche ceuil-d’or. - Upper jaw longer, 0 spine on.theopercule, body oblong, breadth 1 ‘total length, silvery with five longitudinal brownish: ‘stripes on. each side, head brown above: lateral line diagonal and straight; first dorsal fin with eight rays, the second has 14, whereof one is spiny, tail forked, roseate, tip brown; base scaly. ccstasiisthetttt, Vulgar names Rock fish, Rock bass, Rock perch, Gold eyes; Striped bass, &c.. Itiscommonly mistaken for the Rock fish or or See bass 3 the Atlantic Ocean, the. Perca Mitchelli of Dr. Mitchell, ( (Traps. of the the philos,.. Socicty of New York, vol. 3 ge ahs ts. 4.) to. which KI is ee Seen. ‘scaly. tail, &c.. It 1s not very common.in the Ohio, and is hard- ly ever seen at Pittsburgh, being more common. in the lower parts of the river, where it frequents the falls, ripples, and rocky shores. . Its usual size is about one foot. It is very good to ‘eat. “‘Ttbites. at the hook. The mouth is large with very small teeth, the ‘three pieces of the gill cover are slightly crenulate, the middle one or preopercule being however deeply serrate, The eyes are Jarge black | with a large golden iris. _The lateral line begins. at the corner of the opercule ayd does not follow the curve of the back, the stripes are parallel with it and only two of them reach the tail, The branchial membrane has six rays; the spine of the « le is notterminal. The dorsal fins are pos and quite separate, 1 the two first rays of the first are short- ry the second is _ brown — and. diagonals, its base is . +R. tw - : : we 23 It will appear that this fish differs so widely from the forego’ ey as to be hardly reducible to the same genus; but its great similarity with the Perca Mitchelli has compelled me to retain itin this genus; notwitstanding many peculiar characters. I shall however venture to propose a new subgenus or section in’ the genus Perca forthis fish, to which the P: Mitchelli, may perhaps be found to belong. It may be called Lepibema and. distinguished by the scaly bascs of the caudal, anal, and second dorsal fins, this last with some spiny rays, and all the three parts of the gill cover more or less serrulate, besides the small teeth. The Perca Salmonea may also form a peculiar subgenus, or - section distinguished by the cylindrical shape of the body, long head and jaws, large teeth, and a second spine outside. of the opercule over the base of the pectoral ‘fins. - It may be called Stizostedion, which means pungent throat. T could have made peculiar genera of each of them, under the proposed names; but as they otherwise agree with the reduced genus Perca, I have preferred delaying this innovation until more species are found possessing the same distinctions,in which case my two perches may then be called Stizestedion salmoneum, and Lepibema chry- sons. Sd Species. Black poTreD. hoe" Perce nigropometate Perche mh Senta SOR NOISE IS TA I, Se Os _ Upper jaw longer; body: brown,-covered: all-over with black dotts, breadth one sixth of the rlenkthy 1 lateral line sy straight. the anal fins very long, tail truncate. I have not seen this spe- cies, I describe it from a drawing made by Mr. Audubon, Iam therefore doubtful, whether it is a real perch, particularly since the drawing does not show the serratures and spines of the gill cover. It might be a Sciena, or a Dipteroden, yct the shape of the body and the distant dorsal fins, induce me to rank it with the G. Perca until better known; when it may even turn out to be a peculiar genus, which the flexuose opercule, long anal fin and vent in the middle of the body, seem to indicate, and should it bea real perch, it must form a peculiar subgenus, which may be called Pomacampsis in either case. The vulgar namés of this fish are Black Perch, Widow’s Perch, Dotted Bass, Black Bass, Batchelor’s Perch, &e. _Itis found only in the lower parts at 6f the Ohio, from the falls to the mouth, and itruns up the small ereeks, but.is rare every where. Its length is from six to twelve inches. Thesnout is rounded, the head sloping and small, the preopercule rounded, the opercule flexuose or nearly lobate; the eyes are black and beyond the mouth. . The back is almost black, the two dorsal fins are dotted like the body, the first has about twelve spiny rays, and the second about eight soft rays» as last is very: near r thestailsoTheanabfinbas about twenty thevent and the end of the first dor. sahSpoVabrigctises middle of the body, almost. nearer the head. -.*=- Gexvs: Bussrer. Amsiopoy. Amblodon. ‘Body elliptical, compressed, scaly; head and gill covers:scax ly3j jaws with small fily teeth, throat with, a triangular bone be- heath, covered with large-round hollaw and obtuse teeth. Gill cover with two pieces, preopercule slightly denticulate at the os peek ut teeth nor spines: branchial membrane a raheem the. first spiny, the Bi scaly along the base. Vent posterior, -.... - This genus was cailed by me Aflodinotus G, 8. of my. Me- moir.on 70 New Genera of American animals, in the journal of Natural History of Paris, having been led mito error, in suppos- ing that the remarkable teeth of its.throat-belenged-te-the Buf- Salo fish, as will be seen below. The name means obtuse teeth, It adiers from the G, Sciena by the scaly head, operculevand : ab finy besides the singular teeth. Only one nia: is arene as as 32 ai: Soca 4th Species. Grunrine Buppren. Ambladon oe. _ Amblodon grognant, - _ Synonymy. Sciena grunniena Raf. Catal, fishes. ofeQhio, Aflodinotus grunniens, Raf, Mem. on 70_N. G. Animals, G,-8, Entirely silvery, upper lip longer, lateral line curved. up- wards at the base, bent in the middle; and straight posteriorly, tail lunulate, first dorsal.fim with nine rays, the first very short, the second with 35 rays, the fitst spiny and short. _- pe _ The-vulgar names of this fish are White-perch, White-pearch, Buffaloe-perch, grunting-pereh, bubbling-fish, bubbler; and . cater, _It is one of the largest and best found inthe Q- ’ sometimes te the length of three feet andthe sae weight.of thirty pounds, and affording a delicate-food..It is al- so one of the most common, being found all over the Qhio, and even the Monongahela and Alleghany, as also im the Mis- sissippi, Tennessee, Cumberland, Kentucky, Wabash, Miami, &c. and all the large tributary streams: where it is permanenty since it is found at all seasons except in winter. In Pittsburgh it appears again in February. It feeds on many species of fishes, Suckers,Catfishes, Sunfishes,&c. but principally onthe muscles, or various species of the bivalve genus Unio, so common in the Ohio, whose thick shells it is enabled to crush by means of its large throat teeth. The structure of those teeth is very singu- lar and peculiar, they arc placed like paving stones on the flat bone of the lower throat, in great numbers and of different siz- es; the largest, which are as big as a. man’s nails, are always in the centre; they are inverted in faint alveoles, but not at all _con- nected with the bone; their shape is circular and flattened, the inside always hollow, with a round hole beneath: in the young fishes they are rather convex above and evidently radia- ted and mamillar; while in the old fishes they become smooth, truncate, and shining white. These teeth and their bone are common in many museums, where they are erroneously called teeth of the Buffalo-fish or of a Cat-fish. _ I was deceived. so far by this mistake and by the repeated assertions of several persons, as to ascribe those teeth to.the Buffalo-fish, which I nave since found to be a real Catostomus; this error 1 now cor- rect with pleasure. A remarkable peculiarity of this fish consists in the Strange grunting noise, which it produces, and from which I have dea rived its specific name. It is intermediate between the dumb grunt of a hog and the single croaking noise of the bull frog? that grunt is enly repeated at intervals and not in quick succes- gion: Every navigator of the Ohio is well acquainted with it, as they often come under the boats to enjoy their shade in sum- mer and frequently make their noise. Another peculiarity of this fish, is the habit which it has of producing large bubbles in quick succession, while digging through the mud or sand o the river, in search of the Muscles or Unios. ft has a small-head, sloping and compressed all the way frona 26 the snout to the dorsal fins und-entirely scalys thick, hard, and extensible lips,and 2 nostrils on each side, theposierior larger oblong & obliqual: the operculeis rounded with gilt shadés; those shades extend to the sides of the*body, while-the-back-is slight- ly dark or brownish, and the upper part of the head olivaceous. Theiris is gilt brown and the fins are brownish, except the tho- raci¢ and pectoral, which are reddish; these last have 18 rays, while the thoracic have sevenywhereofithe-first-is spiny and the second mucronate.’ Tail’ with twenty rays. “Anal fine narrow. elongate, brown tinged with reddish,and with nine rays, whereof thefirst is spiny, very small and flat, the second is also spiny, but very thick, large and triangular, the third ray is the longest and the lastis mucronate. Thedirstdorsal fin is triangular-and broader than the ee be~ hind. . RO eS This fish is either taken in the seine or with the hook enh line;*it bites easily, and affords fine sport-to.the fishermen. Ft spawns in the spring, and lays a great quantity of eggs /— HID Genus.. Cauururus. Patyrep Tati. sCalliure. ~ Body elongate, compressed, scaly; fore part of the head with- » out scales, neck.and gill-covers scaly: mouth large with ammnd teeth in both jaws; and without lips. Gill cover percule divided downwards into three curved and carinated su- tures, without serrature: opercule with an acute andmembpe- naceous appendage; before winch stands a flat spine. -One dor- sal fin, spiny anteriorly, depressed in the middle. Analfin with spiny rays, thoracic with none, and a five soft =. Vent nearly medial. _ The generic name means fine tail. It differs principally fronithe-genus Holocentrus, by the head, scaly gill cover and singular propercule: — 12 of — 70 — — of Amer- can Animals. 22 2 eae 5th Species. soneiss mecca TAIL. SeCidliecwente Punctula~ tuse. -Calliure pointille, - Lower jaw longer: body een enahiael with blackish dots: head brownish, flattened above: lateral line hardly curv~ ywards at the base: tail unequally bilobed, lower lobe larg- yellow, middle blackish; tip white: dorsal fin yellow with 24 rays, of which 10 are spiny. ay An uncommon fish from four to twelve inchestong. 1 ob- served it at the falls; rare in the Ohio, more common in some small streams. Vulgar names, Painted-tail or Bride-perch. Tail with two lobes, slightly unequal, base flexuose. Belly and lower fins pale, anal fin with 13 rays, the three anterior spiny and shorter, behind rounded .and far from the tail, although nearer than the dorsal fin. Thoracic fin with five rays, none of which appear spiny, and no appendage. Pectoral fins short, trapezoidal, with 15 rays. Branchial rays concealed. IV. Genus. Sunrisn. Icruetis. Icthele. Body elliptical or oval very compressed, scaly. Mouth small, with small teeth and thin lips. Gill cover double, scaly, with- ‘out serrature or spines. One dorsal fin, broader behind with anterior spiny rays, as well as the anal and thoracic fins, these without appendages. Vent hardly posterior. Lateral line fol- lowing the curve of the back. _Synonomy Lepomis. Prod. 70 New Genera, 13 Genus. - An extensive genus, which contains perhaps 20 specics, most of which were blended with the Ladrus auritus and Labrus virginicus of Linneus. They differ from the genus Ladrus or rather Sfarus, by the scaly opercule and the thoracic fins with- out appendage. I have already detected six species in the wes- tern waters; but there are more. I divide“them into two sub- genera. ” Meaning Sun-fish. ~ -. All guod to eat, and easily taken with the hook; they fecd on worms and young fishes. They are permanent. Ist Subgenus. Ter.riromts. Opercule without appendage; but spotted—Meaning spot- ted gills. 6th Species. Gitpep Sunrisn. Icthelis macrochira. Itch- elec macrochire. Body oval,oblong, gilt, crowded with small brown dotts; head small, scaly, opercule flexuose, spot narrow marginal and black, Jaws equal: tail forked: pectoral fins long and narrow, reach- ing the anal fin, which has 13 rays, whereof three are spiny. A pretty species from three to four inches long. In the O- hio, Green river, Wabash, &c Names, Sun-fish, Gold-fish, &c. Head rather acute, not scaly befere the eyes. Iris gilt brown. eae oP ee eee ye oe eee” Se 28 Dorsal fin with 224ong “rays, whereof 11 are spiny, a depres. | sion between the two sorts of rays. Anal fin broad and round. ed. Tail 20 rays. Thoracic one and five. - Pectoral 15. Di- ameter of the body nearly-one fourth of total length.- 7th Species. Buuz Sunrisn. —Icthelis cyanelia.~ Iethele bleu- owerybroad with 12-rays, whereof three are short spiny: pectoral fins very short. Sali ~ A’small species hardly three inches, called Blue-fish or Sun- fish. I found it on the Ohio at the falls. Appearing entirely blue ata distance. -Head brown above. Iris gilt. Opercule curv- ed. Tail olive blue, with 24 rays. —Dorsal fin brownish with 20 Tay8, whereof 10 are spiny, hardly any middle depression. Péc- toral'smalbtrapezoidal, 12 tays.. Thoracic one and five. .- Se8th Species. Biackeve Sunrisy. Icthetis melanope Icth- ele zeuilnoiriess . . ~ Body oblong, diameter one, fourth; olivaceous covered with blue dotts, neck hrewn above, head large, moutheRathe large, upper jaw longer; opercule with blue curved and longitudinal lines beneath: spot rounded black at. its base: fins olivaceous, tail bilobed: anal fin with three: and: fine rays: pectoral fins Yarge oboval. - _ Length from two=-to- six_inches: common in the tributary streams of the Ohio, the Kentucky, Licking, Miami, &c. and even in small creeks. ‘Vulgar names, Blue-fish, Black-eyes, Sun-fish;:Blue-bass, &¢@.__ It-has black eyesike all the other species; but the iris is black also, with a silvery hue of ing. _ Dorsal fin with ten and ten rays, the spiny ones very short. Cau- @al 20. Pectoral 16. Thoracic’one and five, as usual; but the spiny ray is very short, as are also those of the anal fin. po 2d Subgenus. -Pomorrs. ~ ~ = Opercule with a membranaceous appendage, often like “an ile-and spotted. Meaning eared gill oe tee Fae * raion ~~ etme Tamms ei” Ate .~ = emul ct a 29 “9th spécies.. RepryvE Suyrisn. Kihatie Baguio. Bion ele ceuil rouge. aa Se _ Body oval elliptic, Gistastran one e third,) blackish “bowen ceous on the sides, whitish beneath: head small, lower jaw longer, preoperculef] exuose, opercule with a short, angular and acute appendage, a faint and small brown spot above it: tail bi- lobed ciliate, base black, middle olivaceous, tip whitish, upper 4Obe rather larger: anal fin with six and ten rays: pectorals*tra- j pezodial large, not reaching the vent. Vulgar names Red-eyes, and Sunfish. Observed in Licking river, said to be common in many other streams. Length 3 to 8 inches. All the fins olivaceous. Eyes black, iris large and red. Dorsal 1! and 10 rays, spiny short, as well as the 6 of the anal fin. Caudal 17. ‘Pectorals"12-— ‘Thoracics ¥ and 55 the — spiny ray long. : is Bis Cee e 10th Species, Earzp Suetia. dcthelie aurita. Icthele oreil- = Body oval elliptic (diameter one third) olivaceous with blue and rufous dots: head small, jaws equal, opercule flexuose, ap- “pendage black, broad and truncate, some blue flexuose lines on the sides of the head: tail brownish lunulate; back brownish: anal fin 3 and 9: pectorals not reaching the vent. Thoracic mu- eronate. a Length from 3 to 12 iiniease ‘common. in the rivers, creeks, and ponds ‘of Kentucky. Vulgar name Sunfish. Iris brown. ‘Dorsal fin brownish, 10 and 10, spiny rays shorter. Thoracic fins very long, spiny ray rather shorter, first softray. mucronate. ; Pectorals nearly rhomboidal, with 14 rays. Tail 16 rays. ~Vith Species. Bro-Ean Sunrisu. fethelis megalotis. Tothele t offs) ase colour with pa me” with blue sexta eet ip “end rounded: tail black, slightly ly forked: “the v ent: anal fin 3 and 9: thoracics long. and. mucronate, Black tail. A fine: species, called Red-belly, ‘Black-cars, Black-tail Sin: “fish, &e. It lives in the Kentucky, Licking, and Sandy rive ers, “&e, Length from 4to 8 inches. Headyery sloping. Iris sid) D 30 very brown. Belly of a bright copper red colour. All the fins black except the pectorals which are olivaceous, trapezoida acute and large. The dorsal has 20 rays, whereof 9 short ones are spiny. Body very short, hardly as long as broad, if the head and tail are deducted... Thoracics like those of the forego ing species nebo ion = Si V Genus. River Bass. Leromts, Lepome._ _ This-genus differs: from Holocentrus by» having the operculd = from Calliurus by the opercule only being such, while —— is simple and united above with a square suture ovér the head, besides the thoracic fins with 6 rays. Perhaps the Cadliurus ought only to be a subgenus ofthis. From the G. Icthelis it differs by the large mouth and ne on nenee: — means scaly gills. ~ The species. are as throughout the United States. . They are permanent; but ram- blers in the Ohio and tributary streams. They are fishes of. prey, and easily caught with the hook. I shall divide them into two subgenera. I had wrongly blended this genus and the Icthetis under the name Lefomis 13. G.of my Prodr. N. G, Ist Subgenus. Arnures. Only one flat spine*on the opercule, deCOrReeeeaendieere- dial opercule: first ray of the thoracic fins soft or hardly ies Meaning, single weapon. _ 12th Species. Pate EXELL eeepeee frallida. Seemeael pale. emia Ee Comte Olivaceous above, shite Denesth a brown spot at the base of. he lateral line,-an obtuse ¢ appendage on the opercule, spine be- ind “on the gill covers; lower jaw S = tail forked, pale yellow, «ip brown. ~- - Not uncommon in the Ohio, Miami, Hockhocking, &e. Vul- ~ gar name Yellow Bass, common Bass, &c. Length from 4 to si2inches. Shape-elliptic, diameter one fourth of the total “Ten Fins olivaceous, without streaks, dorsal depressed or -interrupted i in the middle, 9 spiny rays to the fore part, the me- dial longer, 1 Spiny ray and 14 soft rays to the hind part. Anal rounded 13 rays, whereof 2 are spiny and short. Pectorals _ ao = 2a, Tail with, 18, Thoracics with 6. Eyes ~ oe $i° large, black, iris brown with a gold ee ‘Bateral line following the back, straight near the tail. = ~ = ae _13th Species. STREAKED-CHEFKS RIVER-BAsS. Lop rtenee . fasctitta. Lepome trifasciee. fen Whitish, crowded with unequal and irregular specks, of a gilt olive colour, none on the belly: gill covers with 3 large ob-. lique streaks of the same colour: opercule without appendage, spine acute, a faint brown spot below the lateral line: lowér jaw longer: dorsal fin streaked behind: tail forked, yellow at the base> brown in the middle, tip pale. Found in the Ohio and many other streams, reaches over 2 feot in length sometimes: vulgar names Yellow bass, Gold bass, Yellow perch, Str eaked-head, &c. Fins olivaceous: dorsal - hardly depressed in the middle—with - O41 rays; whereof 10-are- spiny, hind part with 3 brownish and longitudinal's 8. “Arial fin rounded ‘with 13 fays,°3 of which are spiny, 2 short and a long one. Pectoral fins nearly triangular and acute, 16 rays: Thoracics 6. Tail 2, very broad, forks divaricate nearly lunu- late. Eyes small black, iris brown. Lateral line following the back. Diameter less than one ,ourth of the length. : Lath Species. Brown RIver-rass- Lepomis fleruolaris. Lepome flexueux. ~ Olivaceous brown nahave, sides with some transversal and flex~ uose olit olive lines, belly ly Whiter lateral line nearly st Straight flexuose: spine é broad ac acute, behind the base of the opercule, no appen-- dage nor spot, preopercule forked downwards: upper jaw slight- ly longer: tail bilobed, base olive, middle brown, tip white.=... _A fine species, reaching the length of two feet, and affording an eXcellent food. Common all over the Ohio and tributary” neat 8. Vulgar names;. Black Bass; Brown Bass, Black fe Ce _ Fins Olivaceéus; dorsal with 23 rays, whereof 9 are spiny and rather shorter: anal with 12 fays, -whereof 2 ate spiny: pectorals trapéesoidal, 16 rays. Branchial fays-uncover- ed. Iris brown. This fish might perhaps form. another sub- genus, by the large mouth, head without upper sutures, spine- hardly decurrent, nearly equal jaws, gill covers; lateral line, &c , Its tail and preopercule are somewhat like Caddiurus. It might be called Nemocampsis, meaning flexuose line, Diameter one fourth of the length. . : ah 2d Subgenus. Diorerress BBpercule with two spines above. First ray of the thoracic. fins spiny. . Lateral. line. curved. as. the backs: a metache,. —— osr ian > eet aos. ~ This species differs merely ener i black spot on the margin of the opercules two diagenal brown. ipes.on ca et bain head below the eyes, and all the fins — except the.tail y hich is black at the» end, with a-narrow ‘eabomeggtereesa1 is found along with ityof iahicheatas fishermen deem that it is the young. But I have. Se assertions of the kind elsewhere, that Iam inclined to doubt as it would-be ‘very strange that the gradual changes” should be so great... Yet: this ought tobe -enguired into, since aany vulgar opinions.are often.found to be correct. As sehtth Species. Sonvisn,. RAVER-BASS, Lepomis ictheloides, heloide..__ = Jes eo Stents ro EES <<< =- + =. Silveryy olivaceous above, some faint. blackish-spots on the sides: Jower jaw hardly longer, head with sutures, two flat, broad and obtuse spines above the opercule, decurrent with the sutures. Vent medial, Tail lunulate. Diameter one fourth, ofthe length. _ A very distinct. species from the two foregoing. It might al- most forme peeuliar subgenus, by the medial yent, and obtuse spines.situated above the lateral linc and opercule. Itmight be called Ambloplites or obtuse weapons. It is found in the Kentucky and tributary streams, Vulgar names White Bass, or Sunfish Bass. Length from 4 to 8 inches. Itis also a fish of prey and has many rows of sharp teeth. Its flesh is like that of the Sunfishes. _ Lateral line following the curve of the back.’ Iris silyery. Body with gilt. shades; dorsal with - 21 rays, 1. spiny, no depression... -Anal. 15,. whereof 5 are spiny-and § ally shorter.: Thoracics ; sand. 5.. Pectoral broad 12 rays. Tail 16. Branchial rays 5. A faint and narrow mar ginal black spot ep the opercule beneath the spines. VI Genus Pomoxts. Pomoxis. Pomoxe. - Body elliptic, compressed, scaly. Vent anterior. Head scaleless, jaws plaited extensible, roughened by very minute teeth. Gill cover smooth, scalefess, propercnle forked be- neath, opercule membranaceous and acute posteriorly. Tho- - yacic fins without appendage, -but aspiny ray. Onc dorsal fin opposite to the anal, both with many spiny rays. A very remarkable genus by the anterior vent, equal anal and dorsal fin, by which it differs from the genus Sparua, besides the want of appendage, &c. The name means acute opercule, eth species... Gotp-RIxG pom Ort Pomozxis annularis, PO? ~- mg ee aninuloris, ‘formas of the Acad. of Nat. Sciencl Sof At eee a 1, p. 417, tab. AT, figs de Silvery, back-oliyaceous, with some geminate brown ans: versal lines; a golden ring at the base of the tail; lateral line straight: dorsal and anal fins with six spiny rays, a marginal black spot behind both fins: tail forked: lower jaw longer. Vulgar names Gold-ring and Silver-perch. Found in Aue or gust at the falls, probably permanent, Length from three te 34 six inches. Good to eat. Eyes black, itis silvery. Diameter three tenths of the length. Head gilt above. Pectoral fins reaching the vent Scales deciduous and a little ciliated. End of the tail biackish.- Spiny rays of the anal and dorsal fins gradually longer, but shorter than the soft rays, which are also gradually decreasing; the dorsal has only 14, while the anal has 16 such rays. Caudal 28. Thoracic one and five. VII Genus. Rep-sye.~Apnocenraus, Aplocenire. Body elliptic, compressed. Headsmall, jaws with lips and teeth, opercule smooth and flexuose. Vent medial. One longi- tudinal dorsal fin with only one-spine. - A singular genus, intermediate between Ladrus, Cynedus, and Coryphena; but belonging to the family of Liabrides.. -The name means single spine. I describe it froma drawing made by Mr. Audubon. — It is also the 11th genus of my Prodtomtis: i9th Species. Ouro Rep-ryr. Aplocenirus calliops, Ap- locentre beleuil, — ~-- Pale greenish acts; with some ws transversal black lines, yellowish beneath the - -lateral line, and with some small black lines, whitish and unspotted beneath: iris red: forehead flexuose convex: upper jaw hardly longer:’ dorsal spine longer: tail flabelliform: lateral line straight. C2 naletaeeges ~ A beautiful fish from eight to twelve inches long. It lives in the lower parts of the Ohio, in Green river, &c. Vulgar names Red-eyes, Bride pearch, Batchelor’s pearch, Green bass, &e. Breadth about one fourth of the Iength. Dorsal fin beginning behind the head with a long spiny ray and ending tlose tothe tail, variegated with flexuose black lines: broad at the base, depressed near the tail, and suddenly broad again at the end, Anal fin small. Thoracic fin triangular. Lateral line rather broad. Iris large and red. Tail unspotted, and with rounded tip er fan-shaped. nae Bon ~=. VIII Genus. Barzor. Pocosroma. Barbotte. ~ Body. oval, compressed. Head small, jaws equal, without teeth, but with lips and six barbs, two to each lip and two to the lower jaw: opercule smooth, rounded. Two distant dorsal fins. . <— oA fine genus next to Dipterodon and Cheitodiprenizesitbe- 35 Jongs to-the family of Labrides, and is distinguished from all the other genera by its barbs. The real name means ‘bearded mouth. It was the 10th genus of my prod. of 70 new genera, 20th Species. Waitre-Eyes Barnor. Pogostoma leucopiee Barbotte ceuilblanc, Brown, with five black curved streaks, two on each side and one on the back, lateral line curved joining the lower streak: whitish beneath; a row of transversal lunulatey geminate and black lines, between the two lateral streaks, six similar ones on the gill cover: alarge white and round patch surrounding the eyes: tail forked: vent posterior. A beautiful fish: shape of sunfish: length sometimes twelve inches and weight one pound. It is found in the lower part of the Ohio and in the Mississippi; but is a rare fish. It has’ great many vulgar names, such as White-eyes, Spectacles-fish, Streaked Sunfish, Black Sunfish, Barbot, Bear: ed Sunfish, kc. and the French settlers call it Barbotte, Poisso: linette, and Ciuil blanc. It does not bite the hook, and is only taken with the seine. The row of lunulated lateral lines have the conyexity towards the head and extend through the tail. The “two dorsal fins are short and trapezoidal, anal fins very small, Pectoral long. Thoracic under their hind part. Convexity of the three pairs of lines on the opercule, looking upwards. Eyes small and black, iris narrow and yellow, the white patch appears as a second iris. Chin and forehead between the eyes depres- sed, which form a kind of rounded snout, mouth small, Jaws c& qual. I describe it from a drawing of Mr. Audubon, - IX Genus. Hocrisx. Ernrosroma. Etheostome. ~~ Body nearly cylindrical and scaly. Mouth variable with th. Gill cover double or-triple unserrate, with a spine . “Sh the op opercule and without scales: six branchial fays. Thora- cic fins with Six rays, one of whichis Spiny; no appendage. Onc dorsal fin more or less divided in two parts, the anterior ene with entirely spiny rays. Vent medial or rather anterior. A singular new genus, of which I have already detected five species, so different from each other that they might form as many subgenera. Yet they agree in the above characters, and differ from the genus Scieng by the shape of the body and 36 mouth, and the divided dorsal fin. The name means different mouths. I divide it into two subgenera. They areall very small — fishes, hardly noticed, and only employed for bait; yet they are good to eat, fried, and may often be taken with baskets atthe bl and mill races. They feed on worms and spawn. ist Subgenus. Apxeston. eee Dorsal fin single, gee in the middle, at nearly sim- “S58 ME mee Ran Su, gre >t het NOE - le : 21st Species. Bass Hocrisi. es calliura. Etheos- tome calliure. = sateen saan | Body slightly fusiform and eotaiiteaned: oifvehy, olivaceotts ‘above, some flexuose transversal brownish lines on the sides: lower jaw longer, preopercule double, opercule with an angular appendage and a an obtuse aos behind it: pier smooth; lateral a a the ‘base. - ~~ ~The a genus from three to nine inches Jong. ‘It has some similarity with the Lepomis flexuolaris, and “some other River bass, wherefore it is called Minnybass, Little “bass, Hog-bass, &c. common in the Ohio, Salt river, &c. It has sharp teeth. The head is large, rugose above: iris large gilt brown: branchial rays uncovered. Diameter one Seventh’ of thelength. Lateral line curved upwards at its base. Fins oli- ‘yaceous. Dorsal with 9 and 14 rays, beginning behind the pec- ‘torals and ending far from the tail, like the anal, which has 12 rays, whereof one is spiny. Pestoral fins short trapezoidat't6 rays. Tail 24, fine, base with a yellow curved ring, followed By a forked band of a pate violaceous. colour, ‘tip hyalin. Mouth uecn “straight. ~~ dpntins etoal AES IS ne ~~ 2d ‘Species. FAnTarn ‘Hoortsn. Etheostoma flabettata, - Etheostome eventail. Sele Body olivaceous brown, with transverse unequal brown “streaks, a black spot at the lower base of the lateral line which is straight; scales ciliated: mouth puckered obliqual, jaws near- “ly equal, cheeks swelled, preoperctile simple, opercule curved, vapine « acute: pectoral fins rounded. “Tail oboval flabelliform. -small fish only two or three inches long, common at the ~~ Vulgar itinies Fan-tail, Black bass, Pucker, &c. ee ee Fraigeld ring; branchial. rays -conce d.. “Se Jes smal roughened. Dorsal fin beginning above the pecto als and € id ing beyond the anal, with 8 short spiny rays and 12 soft ofS ofivaceous; with-a longitudinal brown stripe. Vent anterior- fn the'tail, convex pale, rays | and 8. Pec, nuda! 20, olivaceous with many small transver- se lines. Diameter less thanone seventh-of the dength. 23d Species. Brack Hocrisn. Ltheostoma nigra. Etheos~ ‘tome. noire. ~~ ely - black, pale beneath; - scales smooth, lateral litte He ‘muh rather: beneath forehead sso upper sia a ‘his black, silvery, and intl Di ae one seventh of the length, without spots. Head small. “Pectoral fins oboval. Tail 20. Anal fin2 and 8. Dorsal 10 and 12. 2d Subgenus, - Drrieston. on anand ” en fin nearly double, divided into two tie parts. Meaning nearly double. 24th rte area “des. Ethe ostome = count’ ~ ‘almost apienas, some brown spots on the back, and some Sasret geminate transversal lines across the lateral Tiney Which ai gr Ae raised at the base. Head small, niall Rene aT ty Hanae “jaw shorter; opercule angular, ke . comiisnet ries whidat beneath. Cheeks “swelled and _sttiooth,: preopercule simple arched, opercule quite angulart iris large and blackish: scales roughened by the ciliation. Dor- sal fin 13 and 13, beginning above the middle of the pectorals -and ending with the anal, one _ longitudinal brown stripe on ——— rigcwt 38 4t- Tail 20.rays, with many. small transversal lines. Ventme- dial. Anal fin 2 and.8. Pectoral:fins 16, oblong acute. 25th Species. Common Hoarisx. Etheostoma, caprades, Etheostome capros, _ - Body quite cylindrical, whitish, with about, twenty. Pansverse bands, alternately shorter. Head elongate obtusey. upper jaw. donger, reused; opercule , apeular, spine acute: lateral line e 1 I¢ ee tail forked, non eee hill Ohio, aati: ind, abash, ennessee, Green Rive’, Sata Licking, Miami, to “called almost every where Hog-fish. Length from two to “six inches. Scales rough upwards, hardly eihiates Mouth beneath, small; upper jaw protruding like a noes sno ty | the nostrils being on it, Eyes above the eyes, jutting, black, iris silvery. a es Bt the any silvery, above fulvous; preopercule “ ? ig nthe ‘al pe lb cece “SECOND PART. ABDOMINAL TSE . Having complete gills, with a gill cover and a tal membrane. Lower or ventral fins situated on the belly er abda- men Pet behind the pectoral or lateral fins. __ ial x. Genus. Gotpsuan. Poso1on “Pome Body 1 nearly cunts, elongate, sca ly. Ve iY aoa ve Abdomen ee: , ai be ed f e + e = x re, we ~ Ste But ylaits rOuikecalon Year san oA te . t Evie haye seat been sae in the Ohio; after a an : attent ive et I have. ascertained that not a <3, ‘nus, Chipea by the lobed and shielded opereule, the curi mouth, the bodily shape, and the want of lateral apps belongs ‘of course, with the four following, to the family ( pides. The name means lobed opercule. ion 26th Species.: Op10-G Sorpenan. Pomeolobus, _ chrysochlorie, Pomolobe dore. ~~ —- m G cenish- gold : above, Sa *endatk: lateral line straights. : diameter two ninths of the length: ‘dorsal and anal fin trapezol- . dal ‘and with !8 rays: tail brown and forked. A five fish from twelve to eighteen inches long. Flesh es- $ white and with less bones than the shad. It is taken * e seine and harpoon; as jisskiom. bite at. the heaky it preys “however on some seal § 2 : > Pittsburg), and does hot ryn- vu var nam 5 By re" Ohio. Shad Gold ld Shad, Green Her Herring, & it: fas the back ‘convex, blue under the scales. Sides, belly. = throat with’ purple and_violet shades. Top of the head and neck clouded with brown. Several sutures on the sides.of the “ead. Upper lip truncate, flexuose, and even retuse; the low-~ er obtuse and. brown. at the end. Eyes black; iris silvery and gilt. Opercu e Senne the upper. lobe covered bya pa large adi 2 deciduou ateral Tine thel ea gest: per 15 rays: , darker, ceqnaly-decurrent.on each sides end ofthe. body truncate. Poa G jOROSOMA __ Dorosome: wo nceol _ scaly. Vent medial. -Abdo- men carinnted eRe Ar and wit} Ath bro ad tranversal scales;.as fur : as the abdominal ee a ale ess, oil ‘cover. triple, le, Opcr- is simple: _ mouth diagonal without teeth, “lower j jaw short- _ Abdominal fins with nine cars and no. “appendage: do dopel rr ie. : et It differs from Clupea t and Pomolobue, by the a vent, “Enceéolate body, gill covers, ew. « The name means lanceolate body. ay arth Species. Srorred Gizzarn.- Darevome notata. Dens osome tachee. SR Entirely silvery, a large brown and round wider the base of the lateral line, which is straight: two oblong spots of an. em- erald colour above the head: dorsal fin trapezoidal with YS rays), anal longitudinal with 40. Tail Ss forked, lower lebe Jonger. ™ 2 oe water vous a ~ Body somewhat cylindrical scaly, vent posterior. Gill cover double, scalelessy more than four rays at the branchial mem- prané, . Mouth large, jaws with:strong teeth. Two dorsal fins, cae ene iP Nt 1 kt oer fins which have id adipose anc ee to the anal + “This Lintteniy ents whee 1 caenenantt omcnas Salmono is confined to the head waters and brook only know two specfes as yet; but there may be more in the smail streams of Ohio, the Cumberland and Clinch mountains, &c. The white fish of Lake Erie, Coregonus albus of Lesueur, (or Salmo clupieformis of Dt ‘Mitchell;) a fi from the Trouts by being toothless, atid: is therefore a Téal egours, is said to be found ‘Streaitis fees at the fet Se ee Sit T Have tio certain proof of shave been seéh if the Osage river and other po putting into-the: Missouii and Mississippi. =~ * » 34th Species. ALLEGHANY a aaa > Aegtiee, ‘Bruit alleganienne. “Back brownish, sides wala’ with crowded round farvous its, and Some scattered scarlet dots above atid bencath the lateral. ne, which is nearly straight: lower jaw hardly longer, tail red- sk nearly Tanulate, dorsal fin cons with brown stripes, i ea RIES ea bi) and ten rays: anal fin lanceolate whitish, with a ecto: line black anteriorly and red posteriorly. It is found in the brooks of the Alleghany mountains falling into the Alleghany and Monongahela. It has the manner of the smail Brook-trouts, and is called Mountain-trout, Creek- trout, &c. It is easily caught with the hook, baited with earth- worms, and they may be enticed by rubbing the bait and hook with asafcetida like many other fishes. They afford a very good food. Length about cightinches. Head olivaceous with vio- Jet shades. Iris brown. Dorsal fin rufous with brown lines parallel with the back. Pectoral fins oval, not reaching the ‘Base of the dorsal nor abdominal fins, redish below, whitish a- bove, with a brown line. Abdominal fins with nine rays and similar to the pectoral fins in colour, scaly appendage very small. Tail with brown shades. Adipose finacute. Diameter of the body one sixth of the total length. I have seen some individ- uals (they may be the female or a variety) who were of a paler “colour, with fewer and smaller dots; they had the yellowish spots more crowded, the fins darker and the tail pale. 35th Species. Brack Trout. Salmo nigrescens. Truite noiratre. Body blackish brown, with some small spots, head black; lat- eral line straight: lower jaw hardly Jonger; fins and tail black, tail slightly forked. Dorsal fin with 10 rays, anal fin with 15 rays. ) A very rare species, seen only once, near the Laurel hills; it is said to be found also in the Yohogheny, a branch of the Mo- nongehela. Length six inches, diameter one fifth of total Speci ol Tris black and gilt. Slightly pale under the body. 3 ~ XV.Genus. Minny. Mixnitus. Minny. ae elongated, somewhat compressed, covered with small scales. Vent medial. Head flat above, and somewhat shielded, Gill cover double, scaleless, three branchial rays. Mouth diag- onal, small, toothless and beardless, without lips, lower jaw shorter and narrower. A small trapezoidal dorsal fin, nearer to the head than to the tail, opposite to the abdominal fins, and “without spines. Abdommal fins with eight rays and without ap- pendages, (Tail forked jn all the Ohio species.) F ae 46 There are in the United States more than fifty species of small fresh water fishes, (and in the Ohio waters more than six- teen species) commonly called Minnies, Minnews, Bait-fish, Chubs, and Shiners, which should belong to the genus Cypfri. nus of Linneus, or rather to the part of it which has been call- ed Leuciscus by Klein and Cuvier; which subgenus (or genus) is distinguished by a small dorsal fin, no spines nor beards; but as the genus Cahn forms now a lar ge family, ant more than one eS anomalous s species, - aerng in the po- sition of the dorsal fin and the vent, the number of rays {6 the abdominal fins, &c., I venture to propose this and the three following genera. Three other different genera might be es- tablished upon the European species, distinguished as follow: Dobula. Dorsal fin nearer to the tail, abdominal fins with nine rays and an appendage: upper jaw longer. Phoxinus differs by ten abdominal rays and no appendage, Alburnus differs from Dobula by no appendage and the lower jaw longer. | Besides my genus Hemiplus, (Annals of hature,) which has the vent posterior, the lower jaw longer, vnly five rays and an appendage to the abdominal fins. All these small fish are permanent; they feed on worthe, ine sects, univalve shells, and spawn; they bite at a small hook, batted with worms or flies, and they form an exceilent bait for all the larger fish which feed upon them. They are good to eat when fried. Pes 36th Species. SLENDER Miyyy. Minulus dinemus. Min- ny emeraude. Diameter one eighth of total length, ery, back olivaceous pwith a brown longitudinal stripe in the middle: two lateral lines, one straight, the lower curved downwards and shorter: head gilt and green above. Dorsal fin 9 rays. Anal fin 12 rays. r: A small and slender species, common in the Ohio, &c. and _ going in flocks; length two or three inches. Its head is beau- tiful when alive: it is above of a fine gold colour with green | shades, becoming of an emerald green above the eyes. Iris ‘silvery: sides opaque, upper lateral line gold-green, ee _w RE a : Jargé. Pectoral fins with 12 rays, not reaching the abdominal. All the fins silvery. Tail with 24 rays. Scales very small. 37th Species. Sporrep Minny. Minnilus notatus. Min- ny tache. Diameter one seventh of total length, silvery, back olivaceous with a large brown stripe in the middle; head brown above, lateral line straight, a black spot at the base of the tail. Dor- * gal with 8, and anal with 9 rays. Same size with the preceding, but not'so slender and less com mon. Iris golden, nostrils very large, mouth small, lateral line shining blue on the paque sides. Pectoral fins with 12 rays and not reaching the abdomen. Tail with 14 rays. It is often called Minny-chub. 38th Species. LiTTLEMOUTHED MiINNY. Minnilus. mierosto- mus. Minny microstome. = a Diameter one seventh of total length, silvery, olivaceous cn the back and head, sides with a few black dots: lateral line straight, pectoral fins reaching the abdominal fins. Dorsal and anal fins with eight rays. _ A small species found in the Kentucky river. Mouth very gmail, nostrils large, iris silvery, fins fulvous, the pectoral witit 12, and the caudal with 24 rays. Head elongated. XVI Genus. Suiner. Luxinus. Luxile Difference from Minnulus. Vent posterior or nearer to the tail. Moutlr rather large, commonly with lips and equal jaws. Scales rather large. Preopercule with an angular suture. Ist Subgenus. Curosomus. =< Mouth large. without lips, lower jaw much shorter. Scales rough. Opercule flexuose. 3 39th Species. Repserry Sytner. Luxilus erythrogaster. “Euxile erythrogastre. Diameter one sixth of total length: back olivaceous brown, sides pale with two brown stripes, the upper reaching from the gills to the tail, and the lower from the nose to-the anal fin; belly white with longitudinal red stripes from the pectoral fin te the tail: lateral line curved downwards and only anierior. Dor- sal and anal fins elongated. Dorsal 8, and anal 7 rays. A very distinct and insulated species, intermediate between 48 this and the foregoing genus. It might probably form a pecu- liar genus and be called Chrosomus erythrogaster or Kentucky Red belly. I saw it in the Kentucky river. Length from four to six inches. Tail forked as in all this family, and. yellow as well as the dorsal fin, and with twenty rays. All the other fins are whitish. Head yellow above, silvery beneath, iris golden, the brown stripe goes across the eyes. Pectora fins trapezoidal, with 12 rays, net reaching the abdominal fins, Lateral line reaching no further. than the dorsal fin, Anal fin harrow. . Jt is called. Red belly Chub. PS amamgs Otay on 2d Subgenus. Luxinvs. _ Mouth rather large, with small flat lips, jawg equal, scales large. god: -} 40th Species. GorpHEap Suiner, Lucxilus chrysocephaius. Luxile chrysocephale. Diameter one fifth of total length, silvery with golden shades on the sides, head gilt, back and nape. dark olivaceous; lateral line curved downwards, pectoral fins reaching the abdominal. Dorsal and anal fins with nine rays. a Vulgar names, Gold Chub, Shiner, Goldhead, &c. Length six inches. It is found in the Kentucky, Ohio, Cumberland Green river, kc. Iris golden. Fins fulvous, t den large with 14 rays: tail with 24, It resembles the com= mon Shiner or Butterfish of Pennsylvania, Cyprinus chrysoleu- cos Mitchell; but that fishisa Rusilus, having nite abdominal rays, its body is besides shorter and the anal fin is faleated with 15 rays. ‘ 4lst Species. KEnTUCKIAN Suiner. Lucilus Kentuckien- sis, Luxile du Kentuky. we Diameter. one seventh of total length, silvery, back oliva. ceous, lateral line curved downwards, dorsal and cau@al fins red, the pectoral yellow, not reaching the abdomen. Dersal 8, and anal 7 rays. _. Valgar names, Indian Chub, Red tail, Shiner, &c. Length about fourinches. It is reckoned an excellent bait for anglers, because it will swim along while with the hook in its body. Eyes small, iris brown with a gold ring. Yellowish brown ae 49 fbove the head. Abdominal and anal fins white. Pectoral and abdominal fins oboval, with 12 rays. Tail with 24 rays. 42d Species. YELLOw Suiner. Luvilus interruptus. Lux- ile jaunatre. Diameter one sixth of total length: yellowish olivaceous a- bove, silvery beneath, rufous brown above the head, a rufous line from the dorsal to the tail; two straight and separated half lateral lines, the anterior one above the posterior: pectoral fins reaching the abdominal. Dorsal with 10 and anal with 9 rays. A small species, only three inches long, called Yellow Chub or Shiner. Seen inthe Ohio. Sides opaque, with violet shades, Iris silvery, mouth large, lips very apparent. Fins yellowish, pectorals with 16 rays, caudals with 24. XVII Genus. Cuussy. Semoritus. Semotile. Difference from Minnilus. Yent posterior or nearer to the tail, Dorsal fin posterior, opposite to the vent and behind the abdominal fins: Mouth large and with lips. Scales rather large. Preopercule angular. 43d Species. BicBpack Cuuspy. Semotilus dorsalis. Semo- tile dorsal. ‘ Diameter one fifth of total length: silvery, back olivaceous with some black dots, and raised; head brewn above, a crenula- ted keel above each eye: lateral line’ upwards at the base: tail brown, with a black spot atthe base and another before it. Dor- sal fin with 8 rays and a large brown spot at the anterior base. Anal fin with 9 rays. _ It is found in the Kentucky, and several other rivers. Vul- gar names, Big-back Minny or Chub, Skimback, &c. Length ree six inches. Iris gilt brown. Fins olivaceous, pec- tre 12 rays, trapezoidal not reaching the abdominal. “Tail with ys, end pale, base with a round black dot, and a smaller one before it on the body, when the lateral line termi- nates. Head separated from the back by. a suture connected with the opercule, back large convex higher. 44th Species. BicneapCuunsy Senotilus cephalus. Se- notile cephale. Diameter one fifth of the total length: silvery, back brownish, lateral line raised upwards at the base; fins fulyous, the pecto- 50: ral reddish, the caudal pale at the end and unspotted, the dorsat with nine rays and a large black spot at the anterior base, anal with nine rays. Length from six to eight inches, not uncommon in the creeks of Kentucky, &c. Vulgar names Chub, Big-mouth, and Big- head. It has really the largest head and mouth of this tribe. Tris redish iridescent. Pectoral fing with 15 rays trapezoidal and short, abdominak fins rounded, dorsal’ fin beginning over them, spot round: Tail'with 90 rays. 9 45th Species. WAnty Cuunpy. Semotilus diplemia. Sems -otile verruqueux. A Diameter one sixth of*total length: olivaceous brown with gold shades above, silvery beneath: lateral line double, the an- terior and lower curved upwards at the base, reaching to the ab- dominal fins, the posterior and upper straight from the pectoral fins to the tail: fifis red, a spot at the base of the dorsal and cau- dal, and many dots over them. Dorsal with nine 20a the anal ’ with eight. ' Length from three to four inches, often called Minny or Red-. fin. Observed in the Kentucky river near Estill. The male fish has a larger mouth than the female and some black warts on the head. Fulvous brown on the head. Tris Taree; olden, and white. Some black dots on the dorsal and caudal fins: the caudal spot is on the tail, and the dorsal at the anterior base; they are smalland round. The pectoral fins do not, reach the abdominal fins; they have 18 rays: the tail has 24, 9 XVIII Genus. Fatirisu. Rourtitvus. Rutile. Difference from Minnilus. Vent posterior nearer to the tail. Abdominal fins with nine a Mouth large and with lips. Scales large. T call this genus Rutilus, in the supposition that the Cypri- nus rutilus may be the type of it; if it should be otherwise, it may be called Plargyrus, 46th Species, Sirversioe Farrrisn. Rutilus plargyrus, Rutile plargyre. Diameter one fifth of total length: silvery, back with the dor: pal, Sosa and caudal fins olivaceous: lateral line curved Mle ——- downwards: snout truncate, mouth almost vertical. Dorsak and anal fn8 with nine rays. mibaigs Length from four to six inches: vulgar names, Silverside, Shiner, White Chub, &c. Common in thestreams of Kentucky. Mouth large, upper jaw almost vertical, yet longer than the lower. . Irls white. Pectoral fins with 14 rays, reaching almost the abdominals, which are oboval and white. Tail forked as usu- al wath 24 rays. Scales large. arth Species. Bairinc Fautrisn. Rutilus compressus, Rutile appat. Diameter one seventh of total length: silvery, back fulvous, sides compressed, lateral line straight, raised upwards at the base, snout rounded, mouth hardly diagonal, nearly horizontal. Dorsal and anal fins with nine rays. A small fish from two to four inches long, called Fall-fish Bait-fish, Minny, &c. It 1s found in the Alleghany Mountains in the waters of the Monongahela, Kenhaway, and even in the Potomac. The name of Fall-fish arises from its being often found near falls and ripples. Body more compressed than in the other species, as much so.as in the genus Minnilu s. Scales large, lips a little fleshy. Iris silvery gilt. Fins transparent, the pectoral with 14 rays and not reaching the abdominal, tail with 32 rays. 48th Species. Rounpyosge Faxtrisn. Rutilus Amblopis. Rutile amblopse. Diameter one sixth of total length: silvery, head fulvous a- bove, snout round: sides with an opaque band, lateral line straight: pectoral fins with 12 rays and reaching the abdomiaal pe cate and anal fins with 10 rays. one or two inches. Vulgar name White Chub or uaa “Te is found at the falls of the Ohio. Back slightly tulvescent, snout large and rounded, mouth hardly diagonal, eyes large, icis silvery, and scales large. Tail with 30 rays. 49th Species. Buackram Faturisu. Rutilus melanurus. Rutile melanure. , Diameter one sixth of total Jength: silvery, back brownish: snout rounded, lateral line straight, tail blackish. Dorsal fin with 15 rays, anal with 12. 52 Length from four to six inches. Vulgar name Blacktail Chub. Inthe Ohio and Muskingum, kc. Head dark brown above, Mouth diagonal, iris silvery. Scales pretty large. Fins brownish, the lower ones pale, the pectoral short with 12 rays. Tail with 20 rays. a 50th Species. AnomaL Faririsn. Rutilus avoanale Rutile anomal. above, sides aaa ath: snout rounc |) a vertical brown line behind the ‘ateral line straight raised upwards at the base: ins yellow oboval short with 15 rays: tail unequally bilobed, the upper lobe larger. Dorsal and anal fins red, dorsal 8 and anal 7 rays. An anamalous fish, differing from all those of the Cyprinian tribe in the Ohio, by its unequal bilobed tail, which is brownish and has 22 rays. Mouth diagonal. Eyes small, iris olivaceous = _Nape of the neck red, scales rather small. Length three inches, _Fourd in Licking river &e. Vulgar names. Sha Redfish, Fallfish, &c. ae en 51st Species. Rep Minny. Rasta? ruber. Rutile: rouge. Entirely red, tail forked. aude J add here a fine small fish, which - have never seengassyet, but is said to live in the small streams which fall into the Elkhorn and Kentucky. It is a slender fish, only two inches long, com- pressed and of a fine purple red. It may belong to this genus, or to any other of this tribe. Itis commonly called Red-minny. XIX Genus. Fuat-weap. PIMEPHALES, — Pimephale. aan oblong, thick, and scaly. t Vent posterior nearer to the - Head scaleless, fleshy all over. even over the gill covers? PRA aes andshort,. Mouth terminal small, tooth- less, with hard cartilaginous lips. QOpercule double, three branchial rays. Nostrils simple. Dorsal fin opposite the ab- “dominals, with the first ray simple and cartilaginous. Abdom- ‘inal fins with eight rays. ~— A singular new genus, which differs. from Tome ss by: the terminal mouth,. hard lips, soft head, simple dorsal ray, sc. _ The name is abbreviated from Pimelecephales _ which means om Oe . 32d Species: Biackneapep Fag-mrap. | ye pre- snelas. Pimephale tete-noire. . rialtete Diameter one fourth of the length, body dlixanete silvery, head blackish, snout truncated, and with soft warts: fins whi tish, dorsal with alarge irregular black spot at the anterior base, with eight forked rays, and one simple shorter obtuse hard: a- nal with eight»rays; lateral linc flexuosc and raised at the base, tail lunulate. A small fish three inches long. It is rare and hardly known by the anglers. I describe it from.a specimen taken with a hook baited with earth-worm, by Mr. William M. Clifford, in a pond near Lexington, in the monih of April 1820, and now preserved in the Museum in Lexington. Its head is very remarkable, soft and fat all over, the snout.slopingybroady truncate with soft warts in front, mouth at its inferior extremity very small, ellipti- cal transversal, with equal circular hard lips. The whole head and even the eyes are of dusky and bluish black colour. Pec- toral fins trapezoidal with 15 rays, the upper rays of the colour ofthe head. Tail olivaceous lunulated, with 20 forked rays and 5 short simple rays on each side of the base. Abdominal Aus quadrangular. fhe first ray, of the dorsal is singular, thick, short, hard, and yet blunt, almost cartilaginous, or not propet- ly spinous, and not at all sérrate as din the Carps: sacalen pret ty large. ns XX Genus.) Sucker. Carosromus. | Catostome. _ Body oblong cylindrical scaly. .Vent posteriorvor nearer to the tail. Head and_opercules scaieless and smooth.. Mouth bepeath.. the snout, with fleshy, thick; or lobed. sucking lips: Jaws too y-and retractible. . Throat with pectinated teeth. de Be Gill-cover double or triple. Three brancnial rays to ‘the gill membrane. _ A ‘Single dorsal fin.commonly, op- posite to the abdominal fins, which: ‘eight to.tenrays, Lesueur has established this genus, in 1 the first volume of tlic Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences‘of Philadelphia, with all the American species of the genus Cyprinus which have the above characters, and he has described eighteen spc- cics belonging to it. I have discovered twelve additional new species in the waters of the Ohio, where about sixtecn new Spe= 54 ies have already been detected. This genus having become so extensive at an early period, and many other species existing probably in North America and Siberia, I have therefore divi- ded it into five subgenera, employing principally the number of abdominal rays. All these fishes are permanent in the Ohie its branches and the ponds. Sore however disappear in win- ter,retreating into deep wateror into the mud. Many bite at the hook. They feed on univalve re shells; small fishes and spawn. They offer a tolerable = Ai laa ara ca ood gt. Subgenus.” ROHR. aac ” Body Sbteng, compressed; head compressed, eight abdominal rays, dorsal fin commonly longitudinal, tail commonly unequal- by forked. 53d Species. Ouro Carp Sucker. Catostomus anisurus, Catostome anisure. ; ; Diameter one fifth of the Jeng Ur: silvery, slightly fulvescent above, fins ved, ‘the dorsal ‘olivaceow's falcated with 17 rays, fiearer to the head and “réaching the vent: lateral line ‘curv- ed upwards and flexuose at the base: snout gibbose: tail forked, upper part longer. Anal fin fulcate with eight ays. A large species common” all’ over ‘the Ohio aiid ‘thewlar streams, as far as Pittsburgh. Permanent and wag NET OPE in winter. It is called Carp every where. Length from one to three feet. It is taken with the hook, seine, and dart. Its flesh is pretty good, but soft. Thesmale fish has a red tail; while it is olivaceous in the femate. Snout divided fromthe head by a transverse hollow which *makes'it gibbose. Eyes | black, iris sitvery and golden above.” Sides ‘often with copper shades. - ee with cohcentric stria. Pectoral fins large oval acute with YS rays and neaeking the abdeminal fins. Cau- éal with 24 rays, == >= ==54th Species Burrito Carp Suoxer. Corostomie ae Apia. Catostome anisopture. ’ - Diameter one fourth of the total length: silvery: head slop- ing, lateral line curved as the back: tail unequally bifid, upper p&tmuch longer: dorsal fin longitudinal, beginning above the pectorals and reaching the end of the pn sarees by a dou- first aay very Tongs x ed A singular species which I have never seen. I describe it from a drawing of Mr. Audubon. “It is found in the lower part of the Ohio, and is called Buffalo Carp, Buffalo perch, Buffalo Sucker, White Buffalo-fish, &c. Length about one foot. Very good to eat. Taken with the seine in the spring on- ly. Body broad, dorsal fin broad and large, remarkable by its shape like a double sickle, and first ray which reaches the tail. Anal fin small and falcate. Pectoral fins reaching the abdomi- nal fins. The number of abdominal rays was not observed, if it should have nine it would be nearer to C. Velifer and C. seto- éus, or it may form a peculiar subgenus. The C. tuberculatus of Lesueur belongs also to this subge- - nus, having eight abdominal rays; but its tail i is regularly bifid. 2d Subgenus. IcTiopus.. Body nearly cylindrical. Dorsal fin elongated, abdominal fins with nine rays, tail bilobed, commonly equal. . The C. gibdosus and C. Communis, of Lesucur, appear to be intermediate between this subgenus and the foregoing, haying nine abdominal rays, but an unequal bilobed tail. 55th Species. Brown Burrano-risuh Catostomus bubalus, Catostome bubale. _ Diameter one fifth of the total length; ¢1 gliyaccous brown, ‘pale beneathy fins blackish pectoral fins brown and.short: head slo- ping, snout rounded, cheeks whitish: lateral line straight, dor- sa] fin narrow with 28 equal rays, anal trapezoidal with 12 rays. One of the finest fishes of the Ohio, common also in the Mississippi, Missouri, and their tr ibutary streams. It i 1s called every where Buffalo-fish, and Pizoneau, by the French settlers of Louisiana. Thad called it 4mbdlodon bybalus in my 70 N. G. of American Animals, having been misled by the common mistake which. ascribed to it the teeth of the “Amdlodon grunui- ens; butit isa real Catostomus, without any such teeth.. Length from two to three feet; Some have been taken weighing thir- y pounds and upwards. It is commonly taken with the dart at night w hen asleep, or in the seine; it does not readily bite at the hook. it feeds on smaller fishes a and shelis, and often roe S in shoals, It retires into deep water in the winter, yet is some} times taken even then. It comes as far as Pittsburgh. Its flesh 56 is pretty good but soft. Scales rather large. Tail with 24 rays and two equal rounded lobes. Iris gilt brown, eyes small. Pec- .toral fins with 16 rays. Dorsal fins shallow and even beginning: just before the abdominal fins, and ending at the base of the a- nal fin. 56th Species. Brack Burrao-risn. Ccatostomus miger. Catostome noir. Entirely black, lateral line straight.» : I have not séeh this fish. “ Mr. Audubon describés it as a pe- culiar 5] ‘species, found in the Mississippi and the lower part of the Ohio, being entirely similar to the common Buffalo-fish, bat larger, weighing sometimes upwards of fifty pounds, and living in separate shoals. Sd Subgenus. CarpriopeEs. Body oblong, somewhat compressed; head compressed, nine abdominal rays, dorsal fincommonly elongate,tail equally forked. The C. cyprinus-and C. setoows, of Lesueur, belong to > this Subgenus. 57th Species, Oxive CeirScexk: Catostomus carpio. Catostome carpe. + ~ Sete See se Diameter one fourth of the length: olivaceous above, palé be- neath, chin white, abdomen bluish: lateral line peeled fin somewhat falcated with 36 rays, anal trapezoidal with 10— rays; head sloping, snout rounded. Seen at the falls of the Ohio, commonly called Carp. Length from one to two feet. Eyes very small and black, fins oliva- cseous brown, the péttorals olivaceous, trapezoidal short and with 16 rays. Tail with 24. Dorsal fin beginning before the abdominal and reaching the end of the anal fin. Not so good te eat a8 the Buffalo-fish. 58th Species. Sartine a Catostomus veli ifer. Catos-. tome volant. “Diameter less than one fourth of the length: body elliptical, silvery with golden shades, lateral line flexuose, dorsal fin very broad falcated with 25 rays, the first ones very long, anal fin tra- pezoidal lunulate with 10 rays: head sloping, snout rounded. _ Catostomus anonymous Lesneur in Seg es Nat. Sc, of s Vol. 1, page 110. Relea \ on 57 A Getta fish iy not very gommon, yet found as faras Pitts. burgh. It has received the vulgar names of Sailor fish, Flying fish, and Skimback, because, when it swims, its large dorsal fin appears like a sail, and it often jumps or flies over the: water for a short distance. Length commonly from twelve to sixteen mches, of which the tai], which is very large, includes onc fourth, and has 24 rays. Back sliehtly olivaccous, scales very large. Fins olivaccous brown, except the abdominal and pec- toral, which are white. ‘The dorsal beginning before the ab- dominal and reaching the end of the anal, the second and third rays are one third of the whole body, the first is short and cleav- ing to the second; mouth small, quite terminal at the lower end of the rounded snout; head small, convex above. Pectoral fins with 16 rays. Not very good to cat. Seen only in summer. 59th Species. Mun Sucker. Catostomus xanthopus. Ca- tostome xanthope. | Diameter one fourth of the length: lateral line straight: sil- very, back olivaceous, head brown above, snout gibbose round- ed: dorsal fin hardly faleate with 14 rays, anal lanceolate with 8 rays: lower fins ye!lowish. Found below the falls. Length from six to ten inches. It lives in muddy. banks, and conceals itselfin the mud.. Flesh ve- ry soft." Head largey flattened aboves ‘mouth large, eyes large. [ris silvery. Wateral line hardly raised at the base. Dorsal fin above the abdominal, fins olivaceous as well as the tail, which has 20 rays. Pectorals with 18 rays. Scales large. Ath Subgenus. TERETULES. Body clongate cylindrical or somewhat quadrangular, nine abdominal rays, dorsal fins commonly small, tail equally forked. An extensive Subgenus to which belong all the following species of Lesueur: C. aureolus, C. macrolepidotus, C. longi- “ostrum, C. nigricans, C. vittatus, C. maculosus, C. Sucetta, besides the C. teres and C. oblongus of Mitchell. 60th Species. Brack-race Sucker. Cotostomus melinops. Catostome melanopse. Diameter one seventh of the gengtl: head squared, blackish above, snout convex obtuse; back olivaceous, sides whitish with scattered black dots, a black spot on the gill cover, and a 58 large one between the dorsal and caudal fins: Jateral line straights dorsal fin with 14 rays, anal with 9 rays. A singular species seen at the falls. It is rare and called Spotted Sucker or Black Sucker. Length from four to six inches; body cylindrical, flattened beneath as far as the vent, Head flat above, blackish there and in the fore part. Mouth almost terminal with thick whitish lips, the lower one shorter and.thicker, a few small black spots on the sides of the head and a large one on the preopercule. Gill cover silvery. Eyes black, iris brown with a gold ring, Back of a rufescent colour with gold shades. A very large black patch above the anal fin before the tail. Sides pale with small unequal black dots, bel- ly whitish: Fins coppery, the pectoral elliptical elongated with Is rays, the anal clongated reaching the tail, the dorsal broad and opposed to the abdominal. Tail with 20 rays. Scales ra- ther large nervose radiated. 61st Species. Biack-Rack Sucker. Catostomus melanotus. Catostome melanote, . Diameter one sixth of the length: bluish black above, whitish beneath; head convex, snout obtuse: lateral Hine Straight: dor- sal and anal fins with nine rays, Bg Seen only once at the falls. Length six inch oa; Syed cylindrical. Mouth rather inferior, lips thick and somewhat gristly. Iris silvery. Scales pretty large. Fins w hitish, the dor- sal and caudal a little redish. Pectoral fins elliptical with 16 rays) Tail 20. Dorsal fin trapezoidal, opposed to the abdom- inal, the first ray shorter. Anal elliptical obtuse. ‘Vulgar names Black Sucker and Blue Sucker. =. 62d Species. Rovcu-HEaD Sucker, Catostomus Sasciolarts. Catostomus fascie. Diameter one sith: of the length: brown above, white be- neath, sides with small transversal black lines: head sloping, tuberculated above, snout obtuse: dorsal fin longitudinal reach- ing the end of the anal fin, lateral line straight. ; I have not seen this species, but describe it from a drawing of Mr Audubon. It is found in the lower partofthe Ohio. Vul- : names Rough-head Sucker*Pike Sucker, Striped Sucker. Length about eight inches, body cylindrical tapering behind, ~ we. 59 Eyes small, mouth beneath. Lower fins trapezoidal, about, twenty transversal lines. A doubtful species, perhaps an Hy- drargyrus, but the mouth is like that of the Sucker. 63d Species, Rep-rai, Sucker. Catostomus erythrurus. Catostome rougequeue. Diameter one fifth of the length: rufous brown above, white beneath; tail olivaceous: head convex, snout rounded: lateral line straight: dorsal fin trapezoidal redish with 12 rays. anal fin elongated yellow, anal falcated, with 7 rays. A fine species, not uncommon in the Ohio, Kentucky, Cum- perland, Tennessee, &c. Vulgar names Red-horse, Red-tail, Horse-fish, Horse Sucker, &c. Length about one foot. Scales very large. Mouth beneath. Iris whitish, eyes black. - Pectoral fins yellow elliptical reaching the abdominals and with 16 rays. Tail large with 20 rays. Its flesh is dry and not very good.to eat. 64th Species. Kentucky Sucker. Catostomus fiexruosus. Catostome flexvenx. Diameter one fifth of the length: silvery, back brownish, scales rather rough, opercule flexuose: head squared, snout gibbose truncate; lips very thick, the inferior bilobeds lateral line flexuose;, tail brewnt-dorsal.fin blackish with 12. rays; anal fn whitish with 7 rays and reaching the sail. - cette sae roe — The most-common species in Kentucky, in all the streams and ponds, called merely Sucker. Very good to eat. It-con. ceals itself in the mud in winter. It bites at the-heok; ving on minnies and little lobsters. Body thick cylindrical. Frem ten to twelve inches long. Head large, a deep depresion between the snotit and the head, mouth large with fleshy lips. Eyes large black, iris yellow. Opercule hard bony. Lower fins whitish, pectorals elongated elliptical with 20 rays. Pail 20 rays, Dorsal trapezoidal sloping behind. This figh is a most useful to keep in ponds. 65th Species. Bic-mourn Sucker. Catostomus? megasio- muze. - Catostome megastome. Diameter one fifth of the length: blackish above, yellowish beneath, very broad: a spine at the base of the pectoral fins: Jateral line straight. 60 A very doubtful species scen by Mr.,Audubon.. It comes sometimes in shoals in March, and soon disappears. . On- ly taken with the seine, not biting at the hook; vulgar name Brown Sucker. The mouth is very remarkable, being broader than the head, somewhat projecting on the sides. Length one foot. The head resembles that of Cat-fish, but has no barbs. Ts ita peculiar genus owing to the mouth and pectoral spine?, It might be called Zur, é ~colour covers the ow and reaches to the rss Dorsal opposed to the ab- nd trapezoidal, pectorals elliptical yellow. Leer ae Sth Subgenus... Decacrytvus. Bady nearly cylindrical, abdominal fins with 10 rays: taile: qually forked. Besides the two following species, the ‘C. bastoniensie and C. hudsonius, must be enumerated here. 66th. Species. Pirrspurcu Sucker. Catostomus duquesni. Catostome duquesne. ees : Dikmeter one fifth’ ‘of the length, whitish; ators line curyed towards the backs anal fin with nine Taysiextending to the tail: dorsal with 14 rays ; and, trapé szoidal. he ier: 6. duquesni Lesueur J.-Ac. Nat. Sc. v via De: This species has been pretty well describe his description. Length from 15 to 20 inches: good to eats found in the Ohio as far as Pittsburgh: vulgar name White Sucker. " 3 67th Species. Lone Sucker. _Cetecome toeten te. tomus allonge. |, Hae tae Diameter one. goa of the ‘eesti tagiwnish; lateral Ting nearly eelcice meet ore re reules. tuberculated: dorsal fin faleifo ciform. and raised anteriorly, Anal fin rail with 8 rays. ae ~ C, elongatus henner: Ac. Nat. Sc.-v. 1, page es ached t is found in the Ohio as far as Pittsburgh, and called Brovwa Sieg, length from 20 to 25 inches. Head small cuneiform above: ‘Scales lar ge, Good to eat. See. Mr, Lesueur’s des. iption, : ae t sus to a ptt . 64 _ KXI Genus. Sucxrer. Cyc.Eprus. Cyclepte. Difference from the foregoing genus—Two dorsal fins, mouth round and terminal. The name means small round mouth. 68th Species. Brack Suckrer. Cycleftus nigrescens. Cy- clepte noiratre. Blackish,belly whitish, mouth recurved, tail forked. Cyclepius. 17th G. of Prod. 70 N. G. American Animals, A singular and rare fish, which 1 have never seen, but men- tion upon the authority of Mr. Bollman of Pittsburgh; where it sometimes appears in the spring; but it is a rare fish, whose ffesh is very much esteemed. It is also found in the Missouri, whence it is sometin.es called the Missouri Sucker. Length two feet. Se 28 , XXII Genus. Catrisn. Prvetopus.~ Pimelode- Body scaleless, clongated, Head large with barbs. Two dorsal fins, the second adipose and separated from the tail, the first short and commonly armed. Pectoral fins commonly arm- ed. Teeth like a file. Vent commonly posterior. The extensive genus Si/urus of Linneus, which is scattered throughout the rivers of beth continents, has not-yet been com- pletcly ilustrated,-notwithstanding the Jabours of the modern jeNthyologists: I have found in the Ohio abaut twelve species belonging to it: most of which offer consimilar characters and appear to belong to the genus Pimelodus of Lacepede and Cu- vier: which have left the name of Silurus to the species having one dorsal fin. I have already published a monography of them inthe Journal of the Royal Institution of London, under the generic neme of Silurus. I now propose to form with them peculiar subgenus, divided in many sections, and different from the subgenera Bagrus, Synodon:us, Silusoz, &e. Subgenns. IcTaLurRus. ae Head depressed with cight barbs, one at each corner of the mouth, longer than the others, four under the chin, and two on the snout behind the nostrils. Tecth in two patches, acute and file-shaped. Pectoral fins and first dorsal fin armed with an an- terior spine. First dorsal Yernow weap Carrisn. Pietra ran~ hacen tots: Pimelode xanthocephale. Upper jaw longer. Barbs unequal shorter than the. head. Eyes round. Body iron grey, with the wholecor: part of the head. ycllow. Belly white. Lateral line: straight. “Anal “fin with 22 rays. Taal entirely truncate. Silurwssxanthrocephalus: . Monogr. sp. 10. About afootlong. In the Ohio, Kentucky, &c. Head very Aarge, -often entirely yellow,.or only. forivard, or covered; with yellow patches. Iris white, Fins fleshy’: redish. ‘a he dorsad with | and 6 rays, caudal 24. Goodfoods sic) ’ 4th Section. Ixteris. Tail entire, eves “éliipticeheesdlive abdominal rays. Dorsal fins submedial. Pectoral fins with one flat spine serrated outwards, and nine rays. Lower jaw longer. _. Yate 79th Species: Mun Carrisn. - Pimetoduasit us. . Pimer lode bourbeux, < —_ wigmnese Lower jaw longer. » Barbs black): theaters. cones reaching _ the pectoral fins. Body fulvous, variegated or clouded with blacks belly greys No: lateral lines> Anal fin with 15 rays, Tail entire oval obtuse?» © ~ . Silurus limosus, » Monog. sp. 1. Siancpeptig® ce very singular species, differing: from all ingest the long lowerjaw, &c: Leugth about one foot. It has a slenderbody — ofarufous brown mixed with black. »It is found in the muddy em and near the muddy banks of large rivers. Dorsal fia ite the abdominal, with one spine concealed: under the skin md ear Branchial membrane apparent outside, Pegto- . eer. n 67 ral fins with 10 rays, the first whereof is a long and broad flat spine, barbed outwards. Tail with 20 rays. This fish can live very long out of water, and is sometimes alive 24 hours after having been taken. * XXIII Genus Mupcar, Piropicris. Pylodicte. Body scaleless conical flattencd forwards and compressed be~ hind. Head yery broad and flat, with barbs, eyes above the head. Two dorsal fins, both with soft rays. Vent posterior. This genus was the 10th of my Prod. of 70 N. G. of Ani- mals. The name means Mudfish. It differs principally from the foregoing by the second dorsal having rays, goth Species. Toap Muncat. Pylodictis limosus. Py- lodicte bourbeux. ; Lower jaw longer, eyes round, eight barbs, four above and four below. Head verrucose ‘above. Body brown, clouded and dotted with yellowish, redish, and bluish, one row of trans- yersal black lines on each side of the back. No lateral line, Tail entire and truncate. I have not scen this fish, but describe it from a drawing of Mr. Audubon. In is found in the lower parts of the Ohio and in the Mississippi, where it lives on muddy bottoms, and buries itsclf in theanudin.the winter. It reaches sometimes the weight of 20 pounds... It bears the name of Mudcat, Mudfish, Mud- sucker, atid Toadfish. It is good to eat and bites at the hook, The head is broader than the body and with a very large mouth; the barbs appear to lay in four pairs, two above; longer and near the nostrils, and two sinaller under the lower jaw. The first dorsal fins triangular and above the abdominals, which are nearer the pectorals than to the anal. Second clongate with many rays. Number of rays unnoticed. XXIV Gents. Bacxrat. Nortrus Noture, Difference from G. Pimelodus, S.G. Ictalurus, and Sect. Ameiurus: Adipose dorsal fin very long, decurrent and united with the tail, which is decurrent on each side, but pete Oe, with the anal fin, . Genus 18th of the Prodr. N. G. It differs from the genus Plotosus of Lacepede by having the anal fin free, and from P imelodus by the connection of the tail with the second dorsal 68 fin. The name means Tail over the back.» The Silurus gyrt- nus of Mitchell must belong to this genus. | 8ist Species. Yrriow Baoxram. MWVoturus flavus. No- ture jaune. Entirely yellowish. Upper jaw longer, barbs half the length ofthe head. Eyes round, Lateral line nearly straights Anal fin-with 14 rays. Tail entire truncate. A small-specics. very. commion fiear the: falls. Length 4 to 12 inches. . It .agrees»in almost every thing with the Section Armeiurus among the Catfihes. Vulgar name Yellow Catfish, like the Pimelodus cufirews. Dorsal fin? with 1 and 7 rays, rounded spine very short and obtuse. Second dersal beginning before the anal and extending to the tail in a curve. ‘All the Jower fins rouaded. Pectorals with 1 and 7 rays, spine equal and acute. Abdominal fins with 8 rays. All the fins fleshy and fats Head flat above, barbs unequal. Belly convex. ‘Hind part ofthe bedy compressod. XXV Genus. Torsr. Hyrenrerivm. Hypentele. - Body pyramidal: shghtly-compressed,. with very minute scales: Vent posierior, Head scaleless nearly-square;. mouth terminal protruded beneath toothless, lower jaw sven the middie one larger, lips very small. Abdominal fins? - or, removed from the vent, with nine rays, dersal fin antcrior opposed to them. This genus belongs to the family of Cyprinidia, and is next to my genus Lxoglossumy with which I had united it; but this last differs from it by an oblong: body,, flat head, lower lobe -not protraded, abdominal fins and dorsal fin medial, &c: The name expresses the. character of, the lower lip. 82d Species. Onto. Torzr. “Hypentelium macropteruin. Hypentele macroptere. 2... S527 Forehead sloping truacate ns ie culated. Body silvered, ya- viegated, and reticulated with blackish, lateral line straight and faint. Alithe lowerfins elongated, the pectorals reaching t the abdominals, the anal with 10 rays and feorotae the tail. dotsat Enavith i2 rays, tail forked. rogiovsum macroptcrum. Raf. io Journ al Acad. Nat, Se. *hilads Violet; page 220. tab. 17 aya 2 3: eee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee eee a ft.isfound near the fails and is only «-small-fish 2-0r.3. inches Jong. Its vulgar name is Toter or Stone Toter, (Toten. is a Virginia name for carrier.) There is a kind of Chub in ite ginia which bears the same name,-and has the habit of pushing pebbles with its head in order to form an inclosure where the female lays its eggs; the name of Toter was given to the Qhio fish owing to the same peculiarity. It is a rare fish and used as bait. The mouth projects in a short and obtuse snout. Iris large and gilt. Opercule simple. Pectoral fins lanceolate 2- cute, as long as the head and with 12 rays. Abdominal fins tanceolate acute, situated nearly half way between the head and the vent, but not reaching it. Dersal fin trapezoidal. Aral finelongate. Caudal with20rays, : XXVI Genus. Ripsoxrisy. »Saronirvs. .Sarchire, Body sonlelage slender cylindrical, slightly eooryressea ‘Vent withefour.n rows* of small unequal oct the lower one Kater and moveable, the upper one longer immobile, with an obtuse knob atthe end, Pectoral fins round without rays, but with a thin circular. membrane surrounding an adipose base. Abdominal fiis,anterion with six rays. Dorsal fin posterior nearer to the tail than the anal. Caudal fia lanceolate, decurrent beneath. > . A: Ver Nnthiniinctegennsol. the. family Esoxida, differing all the genera of it by-its fles : It. Sgt headin fromedvepfiisosteus by the naked body, and rom E£sox by the tail &ce. The name means fleshy arms. 83 Species, Onto. Ripponsisn. Sarchirus vittatus. _Sar- @hivevabanne. .. a ~Back olivaccous Lrowa, and. with 1 three Jongitudinal furrows, black lateral band from the mouth to the end of the tail, no Tate eral_Imne,. Belly witha lateral row. of black dots on each side, Jaws obiuae longer han the bead. Anal and dorsal fins ns ovate and a . Sarchirus aig, That. in , Journ. Ac, Nat. Sc. Philadele ahua,.V. dy page 418, tab. 17. fig. 2. ~ Snxthe lower parts of the a and at the falls; length from, oe et ~ blackish longitudinal streaks on “each side; back brownish: jaws nearly equal; very obtuse, eyes Jarge and behind the mouth: dorsal fits longitudinal between 1 the abdomi- nal and atial fins: tail forked. ~B, aati ae in American Monthly Magazine, i8ie Volume 3, page 447. _™ This fish is rare in the Ohio, (although it has been scen at’ ‘Pittsburgh,) but more common in the Wabash and Upper Mis- — sissipph It is called Piconead or Picaneau by the Canadians _ and, Missourians. It reachés the length of from three to five oS Fee The pettoral and abdominal fins are trapezoidal, the anal > et with many Taye ee a Saya ‘tis : Ke sometimes called Jack or Jackfish. Lateral line straight, 85th Species, Sarmon Pree. Esox salmoneus. Broche\ saumonne. White, with many narrow transversal brown bands, somes what curved: jaws nearly equal, very obtuse: dorsal fins brown longitudinal and extending over the anal fins: tail forked and brown. : It is one of the best fishes in the Ohio, its flesh is very deli- eate, and divides easily, as in Salmon, into large plates as white as snow. It is called Salmon Pike, White Pike, White Jack er White Pickerel, and? Picaneau dlanc by the Missourians. It has a short and thick head, eyes not very large, and situated, upwards. Pectoral and abdominal fins trapezoidal. Dorsal fin beginning behind these last and extending Over the anal. The number of transyersal bands is twelve or more, rather distant and with the concavity tewards the head. It reaches the length ef five feet. Lateral line nearly straight. XXVIII. Genus. Garrisx. Leptsosreus. Lepisoste Body cylindrical or fusiform, covered with hard bony scales, vent posterior. Head bony scaleless. Jaws very long, and with strong uncqual teeth. Opening of the gills very large. Tail obliqual. All the fins with rays. One dorsal! frrbehind the abdomiteh tis which are removed from-tre-rent: ~The Garfishes or Gurs-areeasily known from the Pikes by their large and hard scales. This fine genus had been over- Jooked by Linneus and united with the Pikes. Lacepede was the first to distinguish it; but he has not Been able to-ascertain nor elucidate its numerous species. He has blended all'the North American species under the name of Lepisosteus gavial, the type of which was the Esox osseus of Linneus, or rather the Alligator fish of Catesby. I find that Dr. Mitchill, ina late publication, describes another species quite new under the evsoléte name of Esor essexe. shall describe and distin- guish accurately five species living in the Ohio or Mississippi, which must be divided into two subgenera. a this nember must be added three other known species. 1. L. gavial, the Garfish or Alligator fish of the Southern “ts States. 2. L¢ spatula or the Gar of Chili. 3. ZL. indicus or the East Indian oz Gar. I suspect however that there are more than~ten-species — of these fishes ia the United States; and many otwers in South America, &e. The Gars of the Ohie partake of theinelina~ tions and properties of the Pikes; but they are still more dan- gerous and voracious. Their flesh may be eaten: -butis often rejected owing tothe difficulty of skinning them, the eperation may However be performed by splitting the skin beneath in zig~ zag. .Their scales are very: singulary they are-not-embricated asin all ‘other fishes; but lay over-the skin ineblique-rows; and areasherd a have many other peculiarities: in ec ic re Beewstated by Cuvier, or may be collec ted-from the,following descriptions. — on mei Sn 1 Subgenus. - CyLINDROSPRUS Em “Body cylindrical, dorsal fin beginning~-behind- thes anal fin: The name means bony cylinder. -= oth Species» -Ducxnin, GarrisH. = RT flatostes Sp atone: Leet eat eo ~ asthe seeds eae cag Feehan ntholaytiaay eylindricab-olivaceous brown a- _bove; white beneath: fins vellowish; dorsal and anal-spotted with eight rays; abdominal fins with sever rays,-tail-obtuse oboval and-spotted with brown: daterat-tirtesneariy-OBSOTE Opeencaiinaisiate? This species is not uncommon in the Obie;~Miami, Scicte, Wabash, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Cumberlandystec, and other tributary streams. It reaches the length of four feet:. _ Avis taken with the-seine; the-hook, and even withthe gig -er harpoon. It is found as far as Pittsburghand inthe AHeghany © River. Its flesh is as: good-as that of the Streaked Pike; “but-is erroneously. thought:p on wT shall give-a- hich™ yreclude-the necessity of repe- titionssin-describing=thecetbvers: 3:- The individuals which -I ob- | served were 26 inches long, the head~54, the jaws 2ganches: the;dimension: from the end of the jaws to the abdominal-fins es, and to the vent 8. “The body was 2°inches ag e herizentally and 24 vertically; ‘nearly: cylindrical, but»slightly seeiigjened on the back and belly, with-convex-sides slightly yel En _ sidessconcave and the two outward sideg convex, lying in-ob- ligue rows, surface smooth and convex. Head scaleless, hard, and bony, eyes behind the base of the jaws, iris large gilt with a brown siripe across, centre or real eyes small and black. Jaws short, broad, flat and. obtuse, breadth about one fifth of the length, the upper one putting over the lower one and with four small nestrils at the end, motionless and with three longitudinal furrows. ‘Fhe lower jaw moyeable, soft in the middle, Teeth white, unequal, acute, strong, and upon a single row. Tongue bilobed cartilaginous and rough. Branchial with 8 rays, jut- _ting,.outand gilt, Pectoral fins yellow with 12 rays, situated directly behind the gill covers and elliptical acute. Abdomi- nal fins yellow, obliquely cboval obtuse and:with:7erayseosAnal and dorsal fins oval nearly..equak and acute, -each with 8 rays the anterior of which is serrated, yeliewish olivaccous and spot- ' ted wath. brown, the dorsal beginning behind the beginning of the anal...Space between those fins and the tail attenuated, Tail or caudal. fin. fourinches long, oblong oboval, entire ob- tuse, base obliqual, the lower part decurrent, with twelve rays, the upper one serrated, ycllowish olivaceous spotted with small unegual brown spots, Lateral.line.concealed under.the scales; hardly visible oupside.. his. fish bears (together with the fol. lowing) the names.of Gar, Garfsh, Alligator Gar,-Alligator fish, Jackor Gar Pike, &c. and on the Mississippi the French names of Brocheieau, Picaneau, Poisson caymon, &e. 87ih Species: Wuire Garvisu. Lefisosteus Alaus, Lep- isoste blanc. Jaws nearly equal, as Tea as the head, about.one eighth of te» tallength, and very broad; body cylindrical-and white, fins obis vyaceeus unspotied, tail obtuse oblong, lateral line obsolete... This. fish resembles very. much. the foregoing, and inated scneral shape of a Pike... It is covered ail over-with-white-shin- wg obliqual eiliptical smooth and convex-scales. It reaches the length of six feet, and is often called Garpike er Pike-gar. It isarare fish in the Ohio. Jaws shorter and broader than-ia the foregoing, breadth one fourth of the length. 2 88th Species. Omio Garrisn. Lefisoaieus oxynrus. Lep: isoste oxyure. vé Upper jaw longer, longer than the head, one sixth of totat length, flat and narrow: body cylindrical olivaceous brown a- hove, white beneath: dorsal fin with eight rays, anal fin with ten, abdominal with six, lanceoJate acute, spotted with black; Jateral line straight, but raised upwards at the base. This is a very distinct species by the shape of the jaws and tail. Itis found in the Ohio; but is by no means commom It reaches six feet in length. Its flesh is not yery good to eat, ra- ther toagh ahd strong smelling; Hike that Of Some strong stur- seons. ‘The indiyidwal which I observed was caught at the falls, “and was 30 inches in length, with the upper jaw 5 inches Tong, while the lower jaw was only four inches: the upper one has . three furrows and juts over the lower by a thick curved obtuse point with four small openings or nostrils, although there were two other oblong nostrils in obliqual furrows, at the base before the eyes. This doesnot appear in L. Alatosiomus. Lower jaw straight with a membrane between the lateral lines. Tecth ‘Afequal straight very sharp and on asingle row. Breadth of the jaws one eighth -of the Jength. Irie large and gilt. Head rough nearly square, covered with” six broad plates, two of which on eae Side, and of a ur. Body cylin- érical covered with the wstial hard sales in OblCqTeTOWe Dut not two scales exactly alike either in shape or size; they are generally elongated obliquely with the two longest lateral sides straight, the upper one concave and the lower one convex, but these is a row of obcordated ones on the back. All the fins fulvous, the pectoral lanceolate acute with 19 rays, the'abdom- inal lanceolate acute and with only Grays: Dorsal and anal trapezoidal elongated, “serrated by Scaly rays anteriorly. Caw Sew with 12, rays, one sixth of tota? length, covered with a few large black spots, of a lanceolate shape, with an oblique flexuose base decurrent bencath and acute at the end; sérrated Si both upwards and downwards, and serratures extending on the body. Lateral line not obsolete, quite straight; but raised a lit tle upwards at the base. ~~ =" ~~ : ~ 89th Species.. Longnitt Create Leinosta longirostris. ; scat Rasicostre. Se ee ¥5 Esox oxseus. — in Amer. Monthly Magazine, Vol. 2; page $21. ~ Upper jaw longer than the lower and the head one fourth of total length and narrow: body cylindrieal, dorsal and anal fins with 8 rays, abdominal fins with 6, tail unspotted nearly trun- ¢ate, lateral line obsolete. I have enly seen the head of this fish, which was taken in the Maskingum. It is evidently the same fish described at length by Dr. Mitchill under the old Linnean name of Esox osseus and found in Lake Oncida; although his description is very minute in some respects, he has omitted to mention the colour of the body; shape of the fins, and many other peculiarities. I refer to his description, and shall merely add its most striking dis~ crepancies from the former species. . Length forty inches, up- per jaw ten inches with two creoked teeth at the end, lower jaw nine inches, teeth of three sizes crowded on the jaws. Scales rhomboidal. Abdominal fins nearly medial. Tail with 12 Tays, serrated above and below. 2d Subgenus. ATRACTOSTEUs. Body fusiform or spindle shaped, dorsal and anal fins quite op- posite. Thename means Jory spindle. 90th Species. Axticator Garrisu. Lesisostene 7erox. Lepisostedercce= Oe Jaws'nearly equal, as long as the head, about one eighth of ‘total length and broad: body fusiform and brownish; dorsak and anal fins opposite, tail obliqual oval, lateral line obsolete: This is a formidable fish living in the Mississippi, principally in the lower parts, also in Lake Pontchartrain, the Mobile, Red River, &c. It has been seen sometimes in the lower parts of the Ohio. It reaches the length of eight to twelve feety and “preys upon all other fishes, even Gars and Alligators: Mr. -John D. Clifford told me that he saw one of them fight withan -alligator five feet long and succeed in devouring him, after cut- “ting him in two in its powerful jaws. My description is made from a sketch drawn by Mr. Clifford, and a jaw bone preserv- ed in his Museum. These jaws are from twelve to eighteen inches long, and from four to six inches broad. They are.crowd- gd with teeth, unequally set, not twe e; which are alike in size, "hg the largest lie towards the end, and have many small ones be- tween them: they are however all of the same structure, jm- _ planted in sockets and conical, base grey,. Striated and hollow, top white smooth, curved and yery sharp. The longest ‘Meas- are one and a half inch, and are three quarters « of an inch thick at the base. The diameter of the body is nearly one sixth of 4shetotal length. The anal_and dorsal fins are small I! and wi with fow rays. Att is. eg: Me. aigator f fish or Alligator gar, and hy. the Louisianians. . an. ‘The see es are large, ess = Ls — a ae wae , moxp Fisn. Lirxozeris. le Body Teetaed, ate with hard stony pent aedral scalesy @ent-nearly medial, “Abdominal fin near the vent. One dorsal fin opposite to the anal, Head bony scaleless protruded anteri- ‘erly in.a long snout, mouth beneath the head, j2 jaws no not elohga- ted, with strong unequal teeth. Opening of the gills ve very arge. Pailin ual,_All the fins with rays. . = _ Avery singular genus, which comes very near to the last sub. - OE rn gomniat “genus; but differs by the sa snout, mouth, tail, scales, Ke. It st_belong h weyer to the fea _The names means A = scales. —_ softies ac ~—91st Species. Deris-Jack AMON = re ad- amantinus. Litholepe adamantin. —— ~ »» Snout obtuse as long as the head; head one fourth of total length body. fusiform. blackish: dorsal. and anal fins equal and with many q says:_tail bilobed, lateral 1 hn 2 “obsolete. — °~ Vwhithalepis adamantinus. — Raf. in America ‘Month! Mag-. “a BANC LIE, V. ‘ol. 3, pet4?, and i a Jour aah de Pippo, e- O5 ‘ee SOeU VIS se ee ee ee © ee Dea 8 Zia 4)o i ot <7 on 1G Sade aah a8 18 Oho. Ttis saiy ,. d probably lives also in the = ~aissippia. T ¢ seen it, but only at a distance, and have been . <= oshown some of i its singnlar scales. Wonderful stories are re- . ae concerning this fish, but Ihave principally relied upon ~ Soe . scription _ and figure given. _mre by. Mr< . Audubon. ~ Tis am es ~ deagth is, froz_ 410 10 fe One was-eau ht which weighed %S: — #2: ee Felice ising 8 ates on ‘the-eurkice sa 4 Cp ey Te PAU pee pay. be tuipiaken Be 3 paces ig ot ASS ee Moe ae iunpossible to take it in any other way than with the seine orave- ry strong hook, the prongs of the gig cannot pierce t the scales which are as hard as flint, and even proof against lead balls! Its fesh is not good to eat. It 1s a voracious fish: Its vulgar names are Diamond fish, (owing to its scales being cut like diamonds) Devil fish, Jack fish, Garjack, &c.. The snout is large, convex above, very obtuse, the eyes small and black, nostrils small round before the eyes, mouth beneath the eyes, transversal with Jatge angular teeth. Pectoral and abdominal fins trapezoidal. Dorsal and anal fins equal longitudinal with many rays. Tail obtusely and regularly bilobed. The whole body covered with large stone scales laying in oblique rows, they are conical, pen- tagonal, and_pentaedral with equal sides, from half an inch to one inch in diameter, brown at first, but becoming ¢ of the col- our of turtle shell when dry: they strike fire with steel! ‘and ar are ball proof! _ a 4 Ge THIRD PART.—APODIAL FISHES. —~ Having complete gills, with a gill cover anda branchial membrane....No lower orventral fins. ; _ XXX. Genus. .Let.Ancumia. Anguille, Body scaleless» elongated. Mouth with small teeth. P®c~ toval-fins. Dorsal.and anal fins very long and united swith.the caudal fins. Vent nearly medial. Gill covers bridled. Ie is remarkable.that there is only this. apadial genus of fishy and not a single jugular genus,in the.Ohio, wi re sO “many abdominal and theracic genera... The EeJs io oiwhich I have already ascertained four species belong all to “the subgenus Conger, having the jaws nearly equal and ob« tase. ~Phey-are-permanent, but rare, and reacha large size. — They aretakenwith the hock, scines, &c.. They feed on small fishes, shells, and lobsters, and afford. a.good food. 92d Species. Broapraw Eri. Anguilla laticauda, Ate guille largequeue. Black above, white beneath, head flattened, jaws nearly equal, ~ FOURTH PART.—ATELOSIAN FISHES, s — Having incomplete gills, without a gill sb or a branchial ecto bothe 99 XXXI. Genus. Srurcton. Accrrenser. Eturgeon. ‘A gill cover without branchial membrane. Body elongated with three or five rows of large bony scales. Abdominal. Vent posterior. One dorsal and one anal fin. Tail obliqual and un- equal. Mouth beneath the snout, toothless, retractible; snout — bearded by four appendages before the mouth. A very interesting and extensive genus, inhabiting all the large rivers of the northern hemisphere; many species are an- adromic and live in the sea inthe winter. There are six spe- cies in the Ohio and its branches, which appear very early in the spring, and must therefore winter in the deep waters of the Mississippi. They are all good to eat and are used as food. They are taken with the seines and harpoons. They spawn in © the Ohio, &c. Linneus, Lacepede, Shaw, ahd Schneider knew — very few species of this genus. I have proved,in a Monography; that it must contain about 40 species, of which I have ascér- tained 20. Seven of them belong to the Old Continent; 1. A. sturio, Linneus. 2. 4.huso, L. 3. 4. ruthenus, L. 4. A. stel- datus, LL. 5. A. lichtensteini, Schn. 6. A. lutescens, Raf. 7. Al. attilus, Raf.; while thirteen are peculiar to North America; 8. fl. atlanticus, Raf. (A. sturio, Mitchill.) 9. 4. oxyrinchus,~ Mitchill. 10: 4. rubicundus, Lesueur, 11. Ao muritatus, Rat.” (var, preceLesucur.) 12. as margrmarns, Raf. 13. A. brevires— trum, Les. (His three varieties are probably distinct species.) ~ Ta i hudsonius, Raf. ; besides the six following ones. ~ “=~ ~ _ =" ist Subgenus. Srurto. Five rows of co ‘the body,” one dorsi, two Tatersly and two abdominal. ee 96th Species. Srorrep StuRGEON. Actifienser maculosuss Eturgeon tachete. al oa A. maculosus. WLesueur in Transactions of the Ameriéan Philosophical Society; New Scries vol 1, page 393. Head one fourth of total length channelied between the eyes, which are oblong, snout elongated obtuse. Body pentagonal olive, with black spots and small asperities: 13 dorsal scales, lateral rows with 35 scales, abdominal rows with 10. Itis found in the Ohio as far as Pittsburgh. Size’small, not exceeding two feet. Mouth and pectoral fins large. Scales: ate tera “eh &0 - ragose, sadiated, keeled and paver ‘behind. ii eshow oblong. “See Lesueur’s description. ~~ 97th Species. Swoverrisx Sruncrow derienrerplatoryn- chus. ~ Eturgeon pelle. ~ ” wae ahd seme On. Head one fifth of total length, fattened; srout flat ovat, hard-~ ly obtuse, rough above, eyes round. Body pentagonalsmooth, _ pale-falvous above; white beneath:~ Tail elongated mucrorate: 16 dorsal scales, lateral rows with 40; abdominal rows with 12.—- A singular specres, , very conrmon in the Ohio; Wabash, and © Cumberland in the spring and summer; but seldom reaching as” high'as*Pitetireh.” Trappears in shoals in March, and disap=~ pears in‘August: “Itis very good to eat and-bears many names; ~ such as Spade-fish; Shovel-fish, Shovel-heady Flat-head, Flat- - nose, &¢. having reference to the shape of its*heady which is | flattened somewhat fike a spade. ~ It is also found in the=Mise™ | _ Sissippi and Missouri, where the French call it Le peile or Poi con Pele WIEN Nas the same meaning: - Size from two-to thrée™ feels yreatest weight 20 1 “Body rather slender, with smatk- Stead cimaiiaeaan ee: Dorsabscates * a inal weily similar; hardly-serrated.= “ before the eyés, the posterior Tareer oblong obliqual: Eyes”) round black, iris coppered. Mouth with eightiobesandwer=- rucose. “Tail very long, one fifth of total tength, the upper lobe~ _* sealy above, slender and with 2 long filiform terminal process. All the fins trapezoidal, “thie* doySal faltated With "2e"rayeland: nearly opposite to the anal. ‘Pectoral large-45_ rays. “Abdoms” . ial 20: rss THREHOF Tose Tuperior so. otfe ‘@orsat and "two laterals ee: ogeth ‘Species, ‘PAO STORGEON. ie hse sre: ‘ mere * rdif, SEE RATS Sy me peel Tite =; a ee Sricat two ninths of total” jetty nacedemaebaliey : eyes ; somewhat oblong. ‘Body cylindricatentirely: ; fulvous brown; : y white, “Tail shott and truncate obliquely “Dorsatscales _ por which hebifid the 'dorsat fin, lateral rows with h stguts Se 84 A ie species reaching 5 and 6 feet in length, It appears in June and disappears in November, but is seldom caught, CX- cept in the fall, when attempting to go down the river, It is sometimes caught in the Kentucky as late as November. It affords a tolerably good food. Snout very short yet somewhat attenuated, barbs brown, eyes nearly round, bead with a depres- sion above, lips very thick, Scales radiated knobby behind. Pectoral and anal fin somewhat obov al, the abdominal and dor- sal trapezoidal. 99th Species. Onto SrurGEon. Accificnser ohiensis, Etur- gcon_.del’ Ohio, Head conical one fifth of total length, snout sloping short nearly acute, eyes round. Body cylindrical rough olivaceouse fulvous, _ belly vihite. Tail short lunulate ot Dor sal. scales: 14 carinated, the lateral rows with 34 dimidiated and 1 uns qual. Somewhat similar to the itehiae. Length from three to four feet. Found as far as Pittsburgh, comes in the spring, and goes away in September. _ Head convex above, with a protuber- anceonthetop. All the fins trapezoidal but somewhat falcate. The tail remarkably so, and obliquely unulate, the lobes not di- vided by a pote j ¢ other sigs, It has been mentioned by Lesueur as a variety of his a. rubicundus, § page $90 of the Trams. Am. Phil. Society, butit differs widely from it. 100th Species. BicmouTH SruRGEON. Accipenser macros- temus. Eturgeon beant. ome Head one fourth of total Jength, snout clongated, some what flattened, eyes round. Body cylindrical deep brown aboye. white beneath. Tail elongated; about 20 dorsal scales, seve- ral between the dorsal and anal fin, about 30 scales in each lat | cral row, L have not seen this species, but Mr. Audubon has commu- nicated me a drawing of it. It is only found in the lower parts of the Ohio, and reaches four feet in length. Good food, Mouth large gaping, hanging down, ‘retractible. Gill cover eblong. Tail slender, the lower lobe very small. Fins trape- 82 zdidal, the dorsal and anal somewhat falcated and more distant from the tail than usual. Lateral scales dimidiated. XXXII Genus: -Dovais rm. Drvegctus. Dinecte. Differs from Sturgeon, by having two dorsal and no abdom-~ inal fins. First dorsal anterior, the second opposed to the anak Three rows of scales as in Sterletus. “This genus rests altogether upon the authority of Mr. sangha won, who has presented me a drawing of the only species be- Yonging to it. It appears»very distinetifhisdrawing be cor- réct; but it requires to be examined again. Is einige georrincorrectly drawn? ns 101s8t Species. Fratnost Dovrtrrim: Dinectus truncatue, Dinecte camus: Head one fifth of total length, conical, snout very short trun- eated, eyes round. Body cylindrical deep brown aboveysilve- ry white beneath, tail elongated: dorsal scales, 4 before the-first : 6 between the fins, and 4 behind the second, lateral ive HH about SO small dimidiated scales. “This fish was taket with the seine near Saoameaiae in “the spring of 1818 by Mr. Audubon. Length two feet, skin : very thick antfeathery. Mouth very large and hanging down as in the foregoing, Somewhat ikea" protoscrsr a Rectosaleent” anal fins trapezoidal, dorsal fins nearly triangular, the first larg. er and standing immediately behind the pectoraly» Gill-cover rounded. © Tail somewhat forked, the upper lobe thrice as long as the lower. Four long white barbs, verynear the end of the snout, eyes above the mouth, a eons el XXXII Genus. Spaverisx. Peineneyt -Polyoston. Differs from Sturgeon, by havirg 4 transversal mouth with ~ tecth, flo Barbs and fo scales. . Snout protruded in a long flat process; gill cover elongated by amembraceous appendage.” ~ This singular genus was first described by Lacepedé. Tt be- Tongs to the family of Stwrionia, along with the two foregoing ant the following. Only one species is known as yet. = ~ -¥O2d Species. Wesrens Srapertsy.- Oe folium. “tet feuille. . : ms a — ee than the bails snout as long as s the head, cunt, — ~~ P ~ . > jan 83 form obtuse thin and veined with one main nerve. Brown at bove, white beneath. Squalus spathula Lacep. Poiss. 1, p. 403, tab. 12, fig. 3s Polyodon folium Lacep. and Auct. mod. Sfatularia. Schneider’s Ichthyology. This singular fish has often been described and fi gured, but Ihave not séen a single figure of it perfectly correct, It isa rare fish, occasionally scen in the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, &e. Itdisappears in winter. I saw several at the falls in Sep- tember 1818. It is caught in the seines and sometimes bites atthe hook. Itis not eaten. Length from one to three feet. I Shall add an exact description of it. An oblong redish spot at the base of the snout, which is brown membranaceous, witha thick cartilaginous nervein the:middle and many veins, broader and obtuse at the end. Eyes round small black, before the mouth, 4 small nostril in front of them. Mouth large, similar to that of a shark, with small crowded teeth on the jaws and the tongue, this is large thick and similar to a file. Gill cover very long membranaceous reaching the abdominal fins. A lat- eral dine following the curve of the back. All the fins brown, nearly rhomboidal, with an obliqua! redish band, and a multi- tude of small crowded 4a S, inserted on a thick fleshy © lump?" fin large ther more ariterior than the anal. Trail very obliqual, serrated above: Iobes not very differ. ent in size, but extremely in shape and situation, the lower one broader, shorter, and nearly triangular. , XXXIV Genus. PappierisH. Pranrrosrra. Planirostre: Differs from Polyodon, by having no teeth whatever and the _gill-cover radiated with a short appendage. By the want of teeth this genus is intermediate between Pax _lyodon and flccifienser. It was first described by Lesueur, un- derjthe name of Platirostra (by mistake) instead of Planirostre: Thad called it in manuscript Megarhinus paradorus. 103d Species. Toorniess Pappierisa. Planinostra eden tula. Planirostre cdente. Head as long as the body, snout longer than the head, some- what cyneiform, obtuse, and thin, with two longitudinal neryes 84 and reticulated veins forming an hexagonal network. Body eys tirely olive brown, Platirostra edentula, Lesueur in Journ. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila- delphia, Volume 1, page 229, This fish is still more rare than the. foregoing, but found « oce easionally as faras Pittsburgh. It is larger, reaching from 3 to § feet-and 50\bs weight. Not very good to eat. Ithas been so fully described by Lesueur, that Ineed not do it again. The _ individual which_ 1 saw .was.40 jaches. long, head 20 inches, snout 11 incheslong and 24-wide.at the end, hardly.cuniform. Eyes-enceedingly» small and round. Gill cover oval radiated a3 in the Sturgeons, with a short membranaccous flap, reaching only beyond the pectoral fins, &c. _ It is also called, along with the foregoing, Oar fish and Spatula fish. Riad rae XXXV Genus. Lamprey, Perromyzon. Lamproied. ~ Body: cylindrical scaleless, vent posterior. Two dorsal fins and xcaudel fin, no other fins.. Seven branchial round holes on ' cath side of the neck... Mouth terminal inferior acutiform, Wothied. $9 aie . Wirsnetindide three AE in the. Oia; -but Wterretvens hagiieGhack have 104th Species. “Brace La — noire. ~ Entirely blackish, tail oval acute, second dorsal over.the-vent,’ several rows-of-teeth.. , ons A very small species, from four to. fives inches sna itis fennais as high as Pittsburgh. Dorsal-fins shallow, and distant from each—other-and the taih | Eyes round and. large. Branchial holes small. No latcval dine: -Mouth-eval, teeth white.and -yeHow: “Fttorments cometinves-the Buffaloe fish and Sturgeons, ‘ipon-which tt festens-itself, It is nevor found. insufficient “Sarit be used as food OS: ~ . - 6 et ae Ne ot ie es <> ee — peteneetictinaanetiedtionate’ ~O Worm eer = we . - we eh er te SUPPLEMENT “Tue Itchtt yology of the River Ohio was begun to be printed in the Weatern Review in December 1819, and has been con- tinued gradually unil November 1820.. Daring the course of the impression some new species have been discovered, or as- certained, which I now prepose to notice THORACIC FISHES. XXXVI Genus. Sprincrish Prcrprorts. Pegedicte. ~Body-conical with small scales, belly flat, vent medial. Head broad scaleiess, gill cover with aaembranaceous appendage and a conceaicd spinc, mouth toothed. f'wo dorsal fins, the first with simple, soft, semi-spinescent rays. Thoracic fins with five rays. “Phis new genus belongs to the family Percidia, and has many affinities with the G. Holocentrus we pee ag, Ltheostoma, &c. but its conical form and many other scees ane net tinguish it completely.” The fame means Fountain-fsh: 105th Species Catsrrve Sparincrisn. Pegedictis ctalopa. Pegedicte zuil de chat. ~ 7 Jaws equal, forehead knobby, eyes elliptical.. Body oliva- ceous with some black transversal unequal brown bands; acon. cealed spine on the gill cover: lateral line straight: tail elhpti- cal. The first dorsal fin with 8 rays, the second with 12, as- well as the anal and pectoral fins. Jt have-discovered this species in the summer of 1820 near Lexington. It has no vuigar name. Length bgasliquemennte's, : ~~ 88, Head large brown, convex-above wi the Catfishes with ob- long eyes, iris gilt brown. Spine of the gill cover co:cealed under the skin. Teeth small and acute. = Pectoral fins large lanceolate. Belly white and flat. Fins hvalin with some brown spots. Vive transversal bands. _ The specific name means Cats- eye. 6th Genus. Ernrosroxs. 106th Species. Sprines Hocrisu. Etheostoma fontinalis. Etheostome des fontaines. Body oblong cyiindvical, breadth one sixth of the length, ofi- vaceous, sides with transversal brown lines somewhat curved: a smail round*black spot behind the gill cover; lateral line” ob- solcic.. Jaws cbhiuse,-the upper one shorter.» Laihoboval en- tire gilt tesselaved with black. First dorsal with 8 rays, the se- cond and-.angbwith 12. ~A little srceles, from one to two inches long, found in the springs and caves. peasy Lexington in the summer. It belongs toithe subgenus: Dinfesion. Body cylindrical somewhat com- preven Head" om, rt ies above: gill coyer attenuated behind & en 86 ~ ebttse and with a spine. Eyes small, iris gilt, Dorsal fins Joining, the first with spiny rays eppendiculated, second with soft rays, anal fin opposed to it and with two spiny rays. Pec- * toral lanceolate with 12 ‘rays, ae lanceolate with 6. Vent anterior. WE Eee ABDOMINAL FISHES: te terns 17th Genus. Semoriius. 107th Species. Sitversrorrep Cuunpy. Semotilus? nota-— ; - ~Semoti!le tache. ~. Breadth one’ sixth of the Tength, brownish, pale ‘BERR Stoail ay with a large ‘silver spot on the forehead be- branc -. Communi cated 1 by Mr. Wilkins. “Tt is rather= doubtful weether it belongs to this genus, or Minnilus, cp : &co~ It might perhaps.be found to constitute a peculiar one — by the small South without Tips, ‘and the SaneROR! ‘dorsal fin, Vent posterior. Pectoral and abdominal fins” “‘oboval. large. Length three inches, good bait for Perch, Bassy Red== eyes or Ringeyes, &e. . anes 26th Genus. SARCHIRUS.. “108th Species. Sitver RipnonrisH. ‘Sarehiries grgenicus. Sarchire argente. 7 sx “Entirely silvery, without bands or spots. * 2 Spmipleonasit naan Communicated by Mr. Owings. It is found in Licking Riv: erj"Slate- Creek, kc © ed, Pike and may. be one, but as it is described without Scales” 7 A : » Length from two to three feet. It is call-. = and ¥ [very alghder 5 I have added itto ee genus, > Untill a ® ; ae al ; y b ee.) a GS Pray >t — enus_belougs to the family of Sharks-ei* tea. : ~~ FOch-Species. ~Mississirrt Sawrisi. ¢Prie rr, nodes tusis.. =. Poisson. “Scie du Mississippi. tier ee : = oe S. thicker j in the middle where it has pig Storizitudinal fu > ~~ 20WS; margin sa mewhat sinuated with traf jal depfession | Pr ; 7s : > ,’ Me eats es Be De, 2 A em "4 the depressions: extremity of the saw roufided nearly trancate, with a raised granular margin reflected upwards. I have only seen the saw of this fish, which is preserved in Mr. Clifford’s museum. It is six and a half inches long, and one broad, olivaceous above, pale beneath, middle part raised but flat. Teeth half an inch long, shorter and more distant near the base, 26 on the right and 27 on the left, nearly equal. This fish is found in the Mississippi, Lake Pontchartrain, Red River, Arkansas, Mobile, and has even been seen in the Ohio, length from three to six feet. MAXVIIL Genus. Hornviso: Procrros. Proceros. eee#spodal.. Body elongated. Vent posterior. One dorsal fin opposed tothe anal. Mouth bencath transversal toothed. Snout protruded ina astraight horn. Four spiracles or branchias on each side. _ anne eee Singular-new-genus of the family of Sharks or dxzacea, from which however it differs by the Want of abdominal fins. There are two species of it: the second, which I have called Proceros vittatus, lives in Lake Ontario, and has longitudinal stripes. llith Species. Sporrep Horwyrisu. Proceros maculutusy Proceros tachete: . Iron grey with white spots on the sides: tail forked: horn one fourth of total length. » This fish lives in the Mississippi, and is sometimes caught “sweat St. Genevieve in the State of Missouri..—Lhe-trencimstt- tlers wall it Pepraon digo di yas no scales, ou its head is bony: Eyes very small. Dorsal and anal fins rounded. . Length two or threc feet, very good to eat. Communicated by Mr. Ma ef St. Genevieve. on ae eee ND & Geen Several imperfect and incorrect notices or Catalogues of fish- es living in the western waters have been published. Catver and Pike have noticed those of the Upper-Mississipoi, Curtis those of Red River, Pike those of the Arkansas and Osage riv- ers, Thomas those of the Wabash, and Lewis and Ciarke those ofthe Missouri; but very few practical facts can be collected from their imperfect accouits, except perhaps from the two latter traveller:. I may at a future period notice the new fish- es of the Missouri, discovered by Lewis and Clarke. I shall at present merely add some facts lately ascertained or drawn from Thomas’s accoun; of the fishes of the River Wabash, page 211 of his travels published in 1819. 2d Sp. Perca chrysops, is found in the Wabash, and called Rock-mullet, it reaches three fect in length and fifteen prounds in weight. This fish wiil not bite at the hook, unless when it is withdrawn, it then darts on it. 4th Sp. Amblodon grunniens, Itis sometimes called Draw inthe Wabash, - 14th Sp. Lehonilp #rauolarien. Mr. Wilkins:has informed me that this fish-watches,over its spawn, antprevents, any staall fish from coming near it: while thus employed it wiliemet bite ~~ _at the hook, but endeavours to drive aw ay the bait. Itis com- ‘mon ip all the tributary streams of the Ohio, aiséoan the Arkan- sas Osage, Missouri, &e. . d9th Sp... Aplocentrus.calliops, -Found in the Cumberfatia Tennessee, Little River, &c, and. called-Redeyes or Ringeyes: 63d: te Ceeeslonus erythrurys, An the Wabash, ried averse 6 ey) st. clodus pailidus. _Itistcalled Wal ye walertish bythe Lenape tndiais. ‘The other Catfishes are gen erall called Wisea- oat nm ‘same. Indians, which means Fat ly The names of Pout and. Builheads are given to some species in the WabeshWtitmi, Mis Mississippi, Kew The'Erench _ setllers cali them Barbottes. 84th Sp. Lsox_vittatus, Thomas mentions wicca kinds-of Pikes s found in she W abash, 1,'River Pike;:2. Pond Pike, slimy thre eet longy-ex sens b.8 Sudesh Mee Ric eenel, exccllent, + Wabash, aiet Gar or dbieh eas tatalene i bil? Six inches and pees Iti is a Strong» fish, 2 sams Pure ds +5, Pitisburgty -had- 000 ints bj the census a R205) sand foe Sooute 96 0. ee “Page. 19, 1.22. ‘The Cumberland has. a ‘fine fall j in Kentucky nea Mone, ~ ticellon a ees - Pape 21. Perea siimonea ‘add: Raf.18£6%h- Amer Month, Ma v3, oBage 29;.1 Ly Bagiarups.tent Kxythropey! 26 s oe Peete Bodianus culiopp, Wak. oe “- ork Mag V3, ee oie mr « Aig Du m:3 Mag-a i 1, 2 ac hi 3 Mien ee 1818, in Am M1} tee “42, 1. 18, nO Cienodmaanete > Raf. in Am M $; Raf. in Am Rit 3p 356" ee reat Tyjddon tergisie ee Ae wees It py oe ee ve. oes =z : . « we a a ~~ eter, Wine knw oo omne oe ~ ae - : = - v . ‘ : - - — : . ia » bs INDEX of Scientific Names. *Acci penser sg us Amblodon * Imbloplites - - Ameiurus'- - - Jimphiodow =~ - *Anguilla - - Aplites oo « - —adplesion = = “- .Aplocentrus-- + Aplotlinotus - iractosteus ~ - Calliiurus - = - Carpiodes™= + - #Catostomus -- - - Chrosomus- - - Clodalus - ~ - si Cycleptus - « - -Cylindrosteus = - -Dinectus - - - - —Dioplites --- Sr me -Dorosoma - «+ - we Decactylus- - - Elliops + - - - *Esox - - - - Etheostoma- ~ - Eurystomus - = _Kzoglossum - - - Glossodm = + - *Hyodon - - - - Iypentelium - - Ictahirts - - - - Ichthelis - - - Ictiobts - - - - *Labrus - - - - Lepibema- + - - —_ ~*Lepisosteus - - Lepomis - - - - Teptops« - = - » Litholepis - - - 89 INDEX of American Names, 3. Alligator fish Species 86, 90. 2. Backtail ~- ~- -- Genus 24, - 6. Baitfish - - Sp. 47, &e. 22. Barbot.. ~- eee = 80, 13. Barbotte - = = » G22. 30. Bass Sp.2, 3,12, 13, 14; &c. 5. Billfish - - Sp. 89, 9. Blackears - - 11. -7. Blackhead + ~ -- - > 5%. i B ee 758. ~ —_ = ~4A 7 ae 3. Bulfaloe fish - ~--~ 68,56. 20. Carp -* -* «= 53, 54,57. 20. Catfish - - G, 22. 16... Chub ~-- ~~ Sp: 39, 40,41. 43.-- Diamondfish - G. 29. 21; Eel - . - 30. 28. Fallfish = - -~18. Fantail = - en epr ee, Fat-head tnt G. 19. “5 at head ——A gg" C 32. Ih Gizzard = = = -~ ©. OTF, 20: Goldeyes’ = : Sp. 2. 22. rold-herring %+ ~~ ---@-12, 27. Goldhead = ~-~ Sp? 40. 9. Goldring - = G. 48. 20. Goldthad «-~- ~ 10, 25. Herring - - Sp. 28—33. 13. Hogfish - - Gs Be 13. Hornfish - - 38. 25. Jack Sp. 84, 86, 9t, &e. 22. Lamprey - - G. 35. 4, Minnies or Minnows’ G. 15, 20. Sp. 21, &e. 4, Mudcat Sp. 79, 80 2. Cwil-blanc. - - 90: 28. Paddlefish - - G. 34, 5. Painted tail - Sp. 5., 22. Perch - 2,3, 4,13, 18 29, Piconeau - - - § 90 uses ewe 16. Pike Minnilus. - - + 15. oisson arme = Moxostoma - - - 20. Poisson cayman - Nemocampsis: ~~ - 5.- » Poisson lunetter, =. - Notemigonus - - 12. Pucker. te “Noturts.-°+ ~ = 94. -Redbelly .- . * Pevedittis- - + 36... Redeyes. -. + @Perca = + = +1... Rec eee ~Pimephales _- - 19. Ribbonfish - - ~"“@896.- *Planirostra - - - 34. Salmon -_ .- “Sp. ~ Ost: ¢ ae ¥ ee eae * x péivodon™ OF ee Sha ~— +. Sp. 26, 27. _2 910... . Shiner... « mee oh f= = 2 A pmoxis _- -_- 6. 4 we ; i . a $~ ee Ci RR ay ee *Salmouw-- - - 14. Suckrel- - - 21, = “Sarchirus.- -_- )26. Sunfish Sp. 6 to #2, 20° * “Semotilus - - SPST I, SNCien® = >t é ? 4 . . y : ; s sa Gad et on : een ate OO oe ore hes NBS Bie with asterisks afe old géseric names: those in ita ae gee eet ead Nii Phen S ~ / ie — a 25D ea & og ee gpm ~ iz . Wes Ser olan -F ~~ ‘ it; ES RSE eS pobe <* gece t Cok? ee SO oe na 4 rs o- Yaron Boxe oe » Sees Cd ~ = - 0” ee ee ee es S298T6t hse. CAS be trata eet OU . SINT CO ete « eee i einen NS | * aa z os i. - on 0 - = ade rs dpi : ie Ne, ee i A eS nee. phat ; ea Seghed 68 Sedat eu ry . < © 2 ae od ~~ ‘ =O ane 2 gape oe ~ Otte A = > eter ae + oe ote