NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 185 



at the extremity, with the middle ray the longest ; ventral fins relatively 

 broader, rounded, with the second and third rays the longest, the last ray be- 

 ing the width of the fin shorter than the first ; anal fin a little shorter than 

 the ventral, hut twice as broad, rounded, with the 3d and 4th rays the long- 

 est ; caudal fin symmetrically and elliptically rounded at the extremity ; the 

 first (upper) ray reaching a little further back than the last ; the first three 

 rays considerably smaller than tbe last three, so that the sixth ray falls in 

 the middle ; skin terminating in a line stretching si^moidally backwards from 

 below to above, so that the base of the last ray is two-thirds the width of the 

 tail anterior to the base of the first ray. A series of scales diminishing in 

 size continues along the first and last rays of the caudal, and the first ray of 

 all the other fins. 



Ray formula : D. 8 ; C. 11 ; A. 8 ; V. 6 ; P. 9. 



The ground color is pale yellowish-white, becoming deeper on the sides and 

 back, and nearly white below. This is varied by a system of pale bhick macu- 

 lation, which, along the back, conceals most of the ground color, and on the 

 sides, about half of it, while the belly is almost spotless. On most parts of 

 the body the maculae are irregular, with a tendency ou the sides to elonga- 

 tion beyond the length of one or two scales. On the top of the head and the 

 operculum they become sharply defined circular spots, with intermediate 

 blackish dots, while the throat is spotted in the style of the breast of a 

 partridge. The fins are all maculate with oval, badly detined spots. 



Measurements. Total length 32-5 inches. Length of head from snout to 

 occiput 6 - 8 ; to posterior margin of operculum 7*7 ; length of tail on the 

 middle line 4 ; upper jaw to angle of mouth 4 ; width of snout one-fourth 

 inch back from nostrils 0-62 ; width at angle of mouth 1*5 ; width of neck 

 between posterior margins of opercula 2-2 ; greatest height of body 3 ; great- 

 est width 3 ; height of head at occiput 2 ; at angle of mouth 8 ; length 

 from tip of muzzle to insertion of pectoral 6-7 ; to insertion of ventral 9 ; to 

 insertion of anal 17 ; diameter of orbit - 57. 



Comparisons. In form, this species approximates most nearly to Cylindros- 

 tcus latirostris, Girard, from Texas. It differs specifically in having a larger 

 orbit, the operculum and cheek less elongated behind it, the muzzle tapering 

 a little more rapidly, and two or three fewer scales in an oblique series. The 

 color, besides, is much less uniform, and the habitat remote. From C. pla- 

 tostomus, Rafinesque, it differs in having the caudal fin more nearly symmetri- 

 cal ; rays of ventral fin not cartilaginous ; pectoral longer, narrower and 

 straighter. The caudal has one more ray, and the anal and pectoral each one 

 less. The snout widens less rapidly, and the scales are more rhombic. The 

 coloration, especially the sharply defined circular spots, is strikingly peculiar. 

 No spots, however, exist on the median line behind the anal fin. There are 

 no other described species with which the present one requires to be compared, 

 unless it be C. albus and C. longirostris of Rafinesque, and L. gracilis, Agassiz. 

 The two former are very doubtful species, and the description of the latter is 

 not at present accessible to me.. 



The following is now a list of the described species of Lepidosteidae, ar- 

 ranged under three genera, discriminated according to information at hand. 

 No attempt is made, at present, to exhibit the complicated synonymy, as the 

 result would necessarily be too imperfect, from the want of adequate means 

 of comparison. 



Lepidosteus Huronensis, Richardson. 

 " gracilis, Agassiz. 



" oxyurus, (Rafinesque,) 



Kirtland. 

 " spatula, Lac/pdde. 



ossens, Lactjiede. 

 leptorhynchus, Girard. 

 Cylindrosteus oculatus, Winchell. 



1864.] 



? Cylindrosteus longirostris, /fa/znesgue. 

 ? " albus, Rafinesque. 



" platystomus, Raf. 



" latirostris, Girard. 



Atractosteus ferox, Rafinesque. 



" Berlandieri, Girard. 



tristcechus, Gill. 

 tropicus, Gill. 



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