1854.] 129 



Algales. Cellular flowerless plants, nourished through their whole surface by 

 the medium in which they vegetate; living in water or very damp places, pro- 

 pagated by zoospores, colored spores or tetraspores. 



Fungales. Cellular flowerless plants, nourished through their thallus, (spawn 

 or mycelium.) living in air; propagated by spores, colorless or brown, and 

 sometimes inclosed in asci ; destitute of green gonidia. 



Now all the entophyta in question, excepting such as are especially described 

 as fungi, are flowerless plants, and are nourished through their whole surface 

 by the medium in which they vegetate; aad they live in a watery liquid, (the 

 intestinal contents,) have no mycelium, and are propagated by spores in the 

 manner of many undoubted algae ; and, therefore, they agree with the former 

 diagnosis, and not with the latter. They even differ in a very important char- 

 acter from Saprolegnia, (which on page 17 of the " Vegetable Kingdom," under 

 the name of Achlya, is placed among the algae,) which possesses a mycelium, 

 as I have frequently observed in this curious plant growing upon dead flies, 

 earthworms, salamanders, &c. 



August 29f/i. 



Mr. Cassin in the Chair. 



The Committees to which were referred several papers hy Mr. Chas. 

 Grirarcl, read Aug. 1, 15, and 22d, describing new species of Fishes, re- 

 ported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



Descriptions of neiv Fishes, collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann, Naturalist attached, 

 to the Survey of the Pacific Railroad Route, under Lieut. R. S. Williamson, 

 U. S. A. 



By Charles Girard^ 

 PERCIDJE. 



1. Centrarchus interrtjptus, G. General form rather elongated, very 

 much compressed. Nuchal region swollen ; oculo-cephalic region subconcave. 

 Snout tapering ; lower jaw longest. Posterior extremity of upper maxillary 

 reaching a vertical line drawn back of the pupil. Head forming a little less 

 than the third of total length. Eyes large and circular ; their diameter being 

 comprised four times in the length of side of the head. Scales on cheeks rather 

 small ; a little larger on the opercle than on the cheek. 



D XIII. 11. A VII. 10. C 5. 1. 8. 7. 1. 4. V I. 5. P 13. 



The origin of the spiny dorsal is situated opposite the base of the pec- 

 torals, and the origin of the anal, opposite the space between the eleventh 

 and twelfth dorsal spines. The tip of rays, as well as the base of anal, 

 extends a little farther back than the dorsal. The base of ventrals falls upon the 

 same vertical line as that which would intersect the base of pectorals. Scales 

 of medium size; minutely serrated. 



Greyish brown above, silver grey beneath. Irregular transverse bands of 

 dark brown or black, interrupted along the lateral line, the portion of the band 

 above it is somewhat alternating with the portion beneath it. A large black 

 spot may be seen at the upper angle of opercle. 



Specimens from Sacramento River, Cal. 



COTT1D.E s. Cataphracti. 



2. Cottopsis gulosus, G. Largest specimens a little over three inches in total 

 length; of which the head forms the third, the caudal fin excepted. Preopercle 

 provided with two small spines, such as may be observed in several species of 

 Cottus proper, the head otherwise is smooth; mouth proportionately large; 

 posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaching a vertical line, which would 

 pass behind the pupil. A space of five twentieths of an inch exists between the 



12 



