114 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY - IV. 



entirely destitute both of papilla} and plicoe. Jaws -without cartilagi- 

 noussheath. Mnciferous system of head well developed. Isthmus nar- 

 row. I'haryngeal bones rather weak, the outer surface of the arch 

 standing outwards and presenting a porous outer margin. The peduu- 

 ele i>r the symplivsis is much longer proportionally and more pointed 

 than in ('ttri>io<1( i s and Bubal ichtliyx. The teeth are very numerous, small, 

 thin, and eompressed as in Carpiodcs, but the lower ones are gradually 

 larger than the upper ones. Their inner edge is slanting outwards, 

 and not uniformly arched as in Bubal uJithys, or truncate as in Cydcptim, 

 the innermost margin rising somewhat in the shape of a projecting cusp. 

 Gill rakers of anterior arch long and slender above, becoming shorter 

 downwards. Body heavy, robust, not especially arched above nor 

 greatly compressed, the form somewhat elliptical; the depth 24-3} in 

 the length of the body. Scales large, thick, nearly equal over the body, 

 their posterior edges somewhat serrate; the lateral line well developed, 

 but not as distinct as in Car)>!t><l<'*, slightly de-curved anteriorly; the 

 number of scales in its course 30-42; 13-15 in a transverse series from 

 dorsal to ventrals. Dorsal fin with an elongate basis, its number of 

 rays L'.~> -.';(>: anterior rays somewhat elevated, their length about half 

 that of the base of the fin. Caudal not much forked. Anal (in not 

 much elevated, its rays about 9 in number. Pectorals and ventrals 

 moderate, t he latter wit h about 10 rays. Sexual peculiarities, if any, un- 

 known. Coloration dark, not silvery. Air-bladder with two chambers. 

 Si/e very large. A single species known. (l/Obs, fish; ,%D~, buffalo.) 



113. I. t>ii9>a!llis (Raf.) Ag. Red-moutli Buffalo-fish. 



P.ody robust, moderately compressed, the outline somewhat elliptical, 

 but the hack rather more curvet 1 than the belly; depth 24-3 ?, in length. 

 Head very large and thick, 3. 1 , in length of body. Operoular apparatus 

 very strong, the operciihim itself forming nearly half the length of the 

 head. Scales very lar^e. Developed rays of the dorsal 27-2!); anal rays 

 '.: venirals 10. Scales 7-37 to 41-G. Coloration dull brownish oli\ <, 

 not silvery. Fins dusky. Si/e very large ; readies a length of nearly 

 '' feet and a \\ei-ht of L'0-.'lo pounds. Mississippi Valley ; generally 

 abundant in the larger streams. 



',,il>li,,l,tn l,nl,,tln* K.-if. .Imini. Pliys. ]-]+. 1-J1 ; Agassi/, Amrr. .Tonni. Sri. Arts, 1854, 

 r.Hi: ^l,,; l ,i,,<illinx ,'i n ,,-'nn //</('. A \ . 1 1 is! . Nut . Poiss. l-ll. 177: '/</(//( i/(,h,:x ci/<nn lilts 

 N-'N.iii. I'.nll. III. Mus. Nat. Jli.st. i,.|;: Jrhtln/ol'ii* Imhulux .Jordan, JJull. U. S. N;it,. 

 MH-. \ii. -Jl I: ^li,;> ; iii,illniH,- ; ii > ri,i,ll,i ( Jiiut her, \ii, -J.J.) 



.fc'idaii. P.nli. I". S. Niii. Mns. xii, -J07. There has been perhaps a confusion 

 Mr. \. Nun'.-, t \ju-s of this species. One srn(. l.y him to us is :m Ictiobus. 



