NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 59 



charged, and the ova were found sticking to the sides of the fish as they lay- 

 in a luap. 



I have been told that these fish can be taken occasionally in February along 

 the wharves and in the docks of the Delaware with a cast net. They are 

 taken with cast and scoop nets at Fairmount dam. They are common and 

 abundant at New Brunswick, New Jersey, on the Raritan, and it is said also 

 in the Passaic, though during some winters they even there are compara- 

 tively scarce. 



It is evident from the size, shape and arrangement of the teeth, that this 

 fish is extremely predatory, and in that respect more closely allied to the true 

 salmon than either of the genera of Coregonus or ThymaUus. 



In the examination of this fish I have ascertained a fact which is also 

 worthy of note : it is, that the second dorsal or adipose fin (which in this fish 

 is transparent) has about twenty minute cartilaginous rays ; they are 

 quite distinct, and the question arises, are there not rays in the adipose fin of 

 all the Salmonidce, though it may be covered with thick skin or fat, conceal- 

 ing the rays. The adipose fin was given for use by the Creator, and not as a 

 useless appendage, and without the rays how else could it be contracted or 

 expanded, or moved from one side to the other ? It may be said that they are 

 merely cartilaginous, but so are many of the rays, especially near the ends or 

 border of the fins. Dr. Bridges could not discover these rays on examining 

 this fish, as it had been dipped in alcohol, and the fin rendered opaque. 



Descriptions of twelve new species of UNIONES, from Alabama. 



BY ISAAC LEA. 



Unio negatds. Testa sulcata, subtriangulari. compressa, ad latere planu- 

 lata, postice obtuse angulata, amice rotunda, subsequilaterali ; valvulis sub- 

 crassis, antice crassioribus ; natibus subprominentibus, acutuinatis, ad apices 

 corrugatis ; epidermide rufo-fusea, obsolete radiata ; dentibus cardinalibus sub- 



grandibus, slriatia crcnulatloquo 5 Ititoralibuo ouborcxooio, cuVilonglc cubreolisque; 



margarita vel alba vel rosacea et iridescente. 



I/nb Big Prairie Creek, Alibama. E. R. Showalter, M. D. And Columbus, 

 Mississippi. W. Spillman, M. D. 



Unio glandaceus. Testa, laevi, subtriangulari, inflate, ina?quilaterali, postice 

 subtriangulata, antice rotundata ; valvulis crassis, antice crassioribus ; natibus 

 prominulis, crassis ; epidermide glandacea, rugosa, eradiata; dentibus cardi- 

 nalibus magnis, valde sulcatis, ereciis ; lateralibus curtis, crassis, corrugatis, 

 obliquis subrectisque ; margarita alba et iridescente. 



Hab. Cahawba River, Alabama. E. R. Showalter, M. D. 



Unio ixstructus. Testa la?vi, subtriangulari, subcompressa, insequilaterali, 

 postice subbiangulata, antice rotunda ; valvulis crassiusculis, antice crassiori- 

 bus ; natibus prominentibus, ad apices rugoso undulatis ; epidermide mellea, 

 exillissime striata, eradiata ; dentibus cardinalibus parviusculis, striatis crenu- 

 latisque; lateralibus subcurtis, striatis, obliquis subrectisque; margarita ar- 

 gentea et iridescente. 



Hab. Cabawba River, Alabama, E. R. Showalter, M. D. 



Unio trinacrus. Testa, laevi, triangulari, ad umbones tumida, insequilaterali, 

 postice angulata, antice oblique rotundata; valvulis crassis, antice et postice 

 crassioribus; natibus prominentibus, tumidis ; epidermide fusco-virente, obso- 

 lete radUta, striata, dentibus cardinalibus parviusculis, depre^sis striatisque ; 

 lateralibus subcurtis, percrassis, obliquis, corrugatis rectisque ; margarita ar- 

 gentta et iridescente. 



Hab. Coosa River, Alabama. E. R. Showalter, M. D. 



Unio stabilis. Testa laevi, triangulari, valde tumida, valde inaequilaterali, 



1861.J 



