86 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Ictalurus notatus Abb., loc. cit. 

 Amia c a 1 v a Linn. 



Lepidosteus otarius, sp. nov. 



Distinguished from the other species of the genus contained in the Mu9. 

 Academy, as below. 



A complete series of adult and young specimens of Lep. huronensis, 

 from the Alleghany River and the Lakes, shows but a limited variation in the 

 relations of the diameter of the eye, operculum, cheek, and frontal width. 

 The Texan specimen included in the list below, may be the leptorhynchus 

 Gird., but that species is not recognizable from the description, Pac. R. R. 

 Rept., x. 351. I have seen no individuals assignable to the gracilis* Agass., 

 Fauna Bor. Americ, Richardson., iii. p. 240. 



I. Horizontal diameter of the eye more than half the dis- 

 tance from its border to the operculum. 

 a. Distance from pectoral to ventral fins considerably less than 

 from ventrals to anal. 



Anterior border of operculum longer than horizontal diame- 

 ter of the same ; its inferior border straight. Eye one and 

 three-fourths to twice in frontal breadth. Scales smooth, 

 43 4, in a ring passing behind ventrals. From ventral 

 to anal three and a half to three and three-fifths times in 

 length from muzzle to inferior origin of caudal. Fourteen 

 specimens huronensis. 



Operculum also higher than long, its lower border descend- 

 ing anteriorly. Eye one-third of frontal width ; 44 rows 

 of scales, as above, 57 on lateral line ; many on anterior 

 third of body rugose radiate. One spec crassus.] 



* Cylindostreus pro ductus was brought by Dr. A. L. Heermann in a valuable collection 

 made in Texas, for the most part near fan Antonio, his place of residence. It approaches 

 nearer the true Lepidostei than any of the flat-billed species yet known : the bill is considerably 

 more elongate than in the platystomus, and the opercula more posterior. Length of bead 

 enters total length (including caudal) three and a half times in the former, four times in latter. 

 Width of muzzle at middle enters nine and one-half times the length of the head, above. Frontal 

 breadth five and one-half times in length of head above in productus, four and one half iu 

 platy s torn us. Orbit contained three times in distance from its posterior border to opercular, 

 and twice in fruntal width. Four scales border the occipital plates, and the line connecting the 

 opercular borders cuts the hinder edge of the third row. Parietnl plates presenting each a promi- 

 nent angle forwards, near the median suture: radii of upper surfaces of head but little broken 

 into granules. Scales perfectly smooth, with entire borders straight posterior to ventrals, anterior 

 without sigmoid curve. Plates of vertebral series each broader than long, anterior to ventrals. 

 Forty-one scales posterior, forty-three anterior to ventrals iu an armulus. Anterior border of 

 operculum linger thau the greatest length of the same. D. 8; C. 11; A. 7 ; P. 10. End of muzzle 

 to pectoral 5 in. ; pectoral to ventral 4 in., 3 1. Ventral to anal 4 in., 5 lin.; to caudal below 6 in., 

 6 lin. Above light lead-colored; sides of body and head silvery, former densely punctulated; 

 latter with a series of spots on the jaws. Muzzle above with eight cross-bands to angle of mouth; 

 three across top of cranium. Below yellow, many scales (in a stuffed specimen,) spotted and 

 shaded with pink. 



The spncies la tiros tris, oculatus, and alb us have the muzzle broader than, or similar 

 to, that of the platystomus. 



t This is a stout, thick species, with broad head, and not very elongate muzzle Breadth just 

 anterior to opercula, three and a half times in total leaath of head from occipital shields : the 

 latter enters length to origin of caudal three and one-twelfth times. The front is slightly convex, 

 and descends strongly. The circumference of the body in front of the ventral fins is one-half the 

 length from the middle of the origin of the tail to the anterior border of the orbit. Four or 

 five rows of scales on the anterior third of the length are radiate grooved. End of the longest 

 dorsal ray above the first pair of braces of the lower caudal ray. Behind the ventrals, about eleven 

 rows of scales that are longer than high on each side of the median line. Rays D. 8; C. 12; A. 9 ; 

 V. 6; P 12. Above plumbeous, the scales with paler centres; below straw-color; several large 

 dark spots and shades on the sides, from the caudal fin to near the ventrals: all the fins spotted. 

 Length from end of muzzle to base of caudal, 2 ft., 11 in.; to origin of anal, 2 ft., 5 in.; to ventrals, 

 1 ft., 7j in.; to opercular border, 11 in., 5 lin.; to Anterior margin of orbit, 8 in. Length of pecto- 

 ral fin, 2 in., 6 lin. ; of ventral, 3 in.. 2 lin.; of anal, 3 in. 



The type specimen was probably taken in brackish water at Bombay Hook, near the mouth of 

 the Delaware River. 



[May, 



