68 DESCRIPTIONS OF ETHEOSTOMOIDS. 



eter of orbit ; dorsal spiues very slender and fragile, the longest equal- 

 ing longest soft ray, and half length of head. Anal spines slender, 

 about equal in length, the anterior the stronger, one-third length of 

 head ; soft anal rays equal lialf distance from snout to base of pectorals. 

 Caudal shallowly lunate. 



Scales strongly ctenoitl, uniformly covering body except breast, those 

 on nape smaller ; opercles and upper portion of cheeks closely scaled, 

 head otherwise naked. No enlarged black humeral scale. Lateral line 

 reaching about to end of soft dorsal, on 30 to 45 scales. 



Head, 3f to 4 in length ; depth, 6. D. XI to XIII— 11 to 12 ; A. II, 

 9. Lat. 1. 50 to 55. Five longitudinal series between lateral line and 

 base of spinous dorsal. 



Color in life: Olivaceous, with six dark cross-bars on back, and with 

 dark tessellations which follow the same pattern as in E. olmstedi, those 

 on upper parts light brownish red, instead of dusky; the Msli^P^d 

 marks along sides dusky, serving, in the brighter specimens only, as 

 the starting points for light-blue bands which more or less completely 

 encircle belly and caudal peduncle. No other bright markings. A 

 narrow dark streak from eye to snout ; an indistinct dark streak be- 

 low, and a black spot behind eye. Dorsals and caudal inconspicuously 

 barred. A pair of minute jet-black spots at base of median caudal rays, 

 more conspicuous in the young. Opercle dusky. 



This species has undoubtedly a very wide distribution. Originally 

 described by Professor Hay from the Chickasawha River, it was during 

 the summer of 1884 found to be abundant in tributaries of the Clinch 

 Biver near Clinton, Tenn., in the Black Warrior River at Morris, and 

 at Tuscaloosa, Ala., and in the Saline and Washita Rivers in Arkan- 

 sas. Our specimens have been compared with the original types, with 

 which they agree in all respects. The frenum joining the premaxillary 

 to the forehead is very narrow and easily ruptured, the upper jaw then 

 appearing protractile. Occasionally the fold is continuous, no frenum 

 being present, the species varying in this respect like E. aimoterum. 



12. Etheostoma (Etheostoma) luteovinctum Gilbert & Swain, sp. uov. 36139. 



Body compressed, the back elevated, the profile descending rapidly 

 forward, and gradually towards tail, from front of spinous dorsal ; 

 caudal peduncle very slender. Head compressed, with a short high 

 snout, the upper profile of which descends in a strong curve. j\Iouth 

 at lower level of muzzle, which does not project beyond it; mandible 

 included. Gape nearly horizontal, of moderate size, the maxillary reach- 

 ing vertical from front of pupil, 3J in head. Cheeks and opeicles 

 scaled. Preopercle entire. Opercular spine present. Branchiostegal 

 membranes narrowly joined across isthmus. Eye rather large, longer 

 than snout, 3i to 4 in head. 



Dorsals shortand low, well separated from each other; baseof spinous 

 dorsal equaling length of caudal peduncle, and but little longer than 

 that of soft dorsal. Highest dorsal spine half length of head; the 



