24 [March. 



Descriptions of new species of Fishes collected in Texas, New Mexico and So- 

 nora, by Mr. John H. Clark, on the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, 

 and in Tjx*s by Capt. Stewart Van Vliet, U. S. A.* 



By F. S. Baird and Charles Girard. 



Second Part. 



VERC0ID2E. 



1. Pomotis spectosus, B. and G. Body ovate, gibbous on the nape; snout 

 small. Head forming the fourth of the total length. Eyes large, their diameter 

 one fourth of the length of the side of the head. Mouth small, posterior ex- 

 tremity of intermaxillary extending to a vertical line passing in advance of the 

 orbit. Peduncle of the tail well developed; caudal with its posterior margin 

 emarginated, and forming lictle less than the fifth of the total length. Pectorals 

 elongated, their tips reaching as far backwards as those of the ventrals, and to 

 the anterior margin of the anal. Scales of lateral line, 43. 



D X. 11. A III. 11. C 4. I. 8. 7. I. 3. V I. 5. P 11. 



Ground color, as preserved in alcohol, brownish; lighter beneath. A narrow 

 blackish vitta on each side near the dorsal line, following the curve of the back. 

 Posterior portion of soft dorsal provided with a large subcircular black spot. 

 Anal and ventrals blackish. Pectorals yellowish. Opercular flap moderate, 

 black. 



Brownsville, Texas. Capt. Van Vliet. J. H. Clark. 



2. Pomotis fallax, B. and G. Body short and high, thicker, and head and 

 mouth larger than in P. speciosus. Body depressed at the nape. Outline of 

 head more oblique, at an angle of about 45 degrees with the axis of the body. 

 A vertical line erected at the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass 

 along the anterior edge of the pupil to the line of insertion of head and body. 

 Opercular flap very large and black. Peduncle of the tail shorter than in P. 

 speciosus, as also the pectorals, which de not reach as far back as the filamentous 

 tips of the external soft ray of the ventrals. Scales of lateral line, 39. 



D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. 1. 8. 7. I. 2. V I. 5. P 14. 



Deep blackish brown above, yellowish beneath. Bluish dots on the sides of 

 head, sometimes confluent into irregular lines. A small dark spot at the poste- 

 rior and basal portion of the soft dorsal fin. Ventrals blackish. 



Elm Creek, Texas. J. H. Clark. 



3. Pomotis convexifrons, B. and G. Allied to the two preceding species in 

 general appearance. The nape is little if at all depressed. A vertical line 

 erected from the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass along the an- 

 terior border of the pupil and fall considerably behind the line of junction of 

 head and body ; angle of outline of head with the axis of body, more than 45. 

 Scales in lateral line, 37. Peduncle of tail short. Opercular flap black and 

 larger than in P. fall ax. The spiny dorsal is highest upon its middle, and the 

 external soft ray of ventrals not prolonged into a thread. 



D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. I. 8. 7. 1. 2. V I. 5. P 13. 



Color uniform reddish brown ; fins light greyish. Posterior and basal portion 

 of soft dorsal provided with a small roundish spot. Ventrals blackish. 

 Rio Cibolo, trib. of Rio San Antonio, Texas. J. H. Clark. 



4. Pomotis nefastcjs, B. and G. General form more elongated than in P. 

 convexifrons, and less so than in P. aquilensis. Outline nearly straight along 

 nape. Opercular flap small, black, narrowly margined with blue. Head form- 

 ing two-sevenths of the total length. Eyes rather large, their diameter forming 

 the fourth of the length of side of head. Mouth rather small ; a vertical line 

 erected from the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass between the 



anterior edge of the orbit and the pupil, and fall considerably anterior to the 



* The species described in this paper from the waters of western Texas and 

 those emptying into the Gila, were collected while the Boundary Survey was in 

 charge of Col. J. D. Graham ; the others while under Major W- H. Emory. 



