680 



ZOOLOGY FISHES. 



anteriorly in 19 longitudinal and 64-5 transverse series. Fin radii : D.I. 

 11-12; A. 7; V. 10; dorsal exactly half way between end of muzzle and 

 basis of caudal fin. Orbit 4.2 times in head ; twice in interorbital width. 



Color silvery, with steel reflections; upper surface pale-brown with 

 dark-brown scales arranged so as to make imperfect shades across the back. 

 Three black spots on each side, one above the middle of the pectoral fin, 

 one above the origin of the ventral, and one near the base of the caudal. 

 Length, O m .07v 



The large lateral spots of this species are not seen in any other of the 

 order. 



PTYCHOSTOMUS, Agass. 

 PTYCHOSTOMUS CONGESTUS, Gir. (?). 



Ptychostomiis congestum, GIR. (?), U. S. & Mex. Bound. Surv., ii, 1859, 36, pi. xx, figs. 5-8. 

 Three fine specimens, referred provisonally to this species, exhibit the 



6 



following characters : Scales, j5. Radii : D. 1. 13 ; A. 7 ; V. 9. The head en- 



5 



ters the length without caudal fin 4.5 times, or 5.5 times into the total. 

 Eye 4.5 times in length, and twice in interorbital width of head. Vertex 

 with low lateral ridges ; front perfectly flat. This is one of the short-headed 

 species, intermediate in this and other respects between the P. erytlirurus, 

 Raf., and P. aureolus, Les., of the eastern and Mississippi waters. P. conges- 

 tus is a Texan species, with two more rows of scales than the present indi- 

 viduals, a point of some note in this genus. 



