107. COTTID.E URANIDEA. 607 



NOTE. As here understood, a wide-spread and abundant species, varying in dif- 

 ferent regions, as is the case with most non-migratory species. In this as in others 

 of similar range, the. inhabitants of each stream may show local peculiarities. A 

 number of these forms have received from Dr. Girard specific names, which are 

 accompanied by detailed descriptions. Large collections of these fishes show that 

 numerous similar "species" still exist uudescribed, as it is a rare thiug to find a speci- 

 men which exactly agrees in all respects with any of the species in Dr. Girard's 

 "Monograph of the Fresh-Water Cottoids." The following forms, of all of which tho 

 writers have specimens, may possibly be recognized as "varieties," but of their com- 

 plete iutergradation we have no doubt: 



Var. richardsoni (Ag.) is rather slender, with the vent rather more posterior than 

 usual, placed midway between the snout and the tip of the caudal; in the others it is 

 nearly midway between the snout and the middle of the caudal. Wisconsin to Lake 

 Superior. 



(Cotlus richardsoni Agassiz, Lake Superior, 1850, 300: Cottns richardxoni Girard, 

 Monograph Fresh- Water Cottoids N. A. 39: Coitus richardsoni Giiuther, ii, 18 ) 



Var. bairdi (Girard) is small and slender, with the spiuous dorsal very low, and tho 

 palatine teeth less developed than in the other forms. Cayuga Lake, N. Y., to Ohio. 



(Cottns bairdii Girard, Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci. ii, 1850, 410, and Mou. Cott. 44.) 



Var. wilsoni (Grd.) is rather stouter, with stronger palatine teeth, and with some of 

 tho uppermost of the pectoral rays bifurcate, these being entire in the others. Ohio 

 Valley, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. 



(Coitus wilsoni Grd. 1. c. 42. ) 



Var. alvordi Grd. is short and chubby, with the first dorsal rather high, and joined 

 by membrane to the second more than in other forms. Common in Wisconsin and 

 Michigan. 



(Coitus alvordi Grd. 1. c. 46.) 



Var. meridionalis (Grd.) is rather robust, with the dorsal fins scarcely connected, 

 and the mouth rather larger, the maxillary extending to opposite posterior border of 

 eye; the preopercular spine is sharp and directed well upward. Pennsylvania to 

 North Carolina, along the Alleghanies; abundant. 



(Coitus meridionalis Girard, Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci. ii, 1850, 410, and 1. c. 47.) 



Var. zopltera (Jor. ) is slender and very dark in color, and more conspicuously varie- 

 gated ; the first dorsal high; the palatine teeth well developed. Alabama River. 



(Potamocoltus zoplicrus Jordan, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. 187G, 320.) 



Var. Carolina} (Gill) is a very large form, rather robust, reaching a length of nearly 

 six inches, without axillary prickles, and with the palatine teeth well developed. 

 The lateral line, as in the other forms, is sometimes continuous and sometimes inter- 

 rupted. It abounds in the limestone region from Indiana to Tennessee, and is fre- 

 quently found in caves. 



(Potarnocottns carolince Gill, Proc. Bust. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1861, 40: Poiamocottus Carolines 

 Gill, Simps. Kept, Ichth. Utah, 1877, 403.) 



IQftl. U. wlaeelri Cope. 



Body slender, entirely smooth. Head not broad; maxillary reaching 

 pupil. Lateral line deflcxed' below dorsal. Eye large, 5 in head; isth- 







mus as wide as distance from pupil to snout; preopercnlar spine strong. 

 Pectoral longer than head, reaching past front of anal, longer than 

 usual in V. richardsoni. Head 3; depth Cf. D. VII-17; A. 12; P. 15, 



