38 ON THE ZOOLOGICAL POSITION OF TEXAS. 



the same character of dorsal fin. In the " Gijininidw of Pennsylvauia" I 

 showed that it was much more like Alhurnops ("Hybopsis") in all re- 

 spects ; that it is of caruivorous habits, with short aUmentary canal, and 

 with the short dorsal spine not separated by membrane from the first 

 cartilaginous ray. 



The present is the second known species of the genus. It is a fish of 

 rather uniform diameter and deep caudal peduncle. The head is oblong 

 and rather wide above ; the muzzle has a decurved profile and terminal 

 mouth. Eadial formula : D. 1-8; A. 1-7. Scales 7-34; number below 

 the lateral line unknown, as they are quite carneous. The orbit is 

 large, entering the length of the head 3.4 times and a little more than 

 once in the length of the muzzle, which is just equal to the interorbital 

 width. The head is wide behind and flat above. The infraorbital bones 

 are narrow, while the i^reorbital is large, with convex inferior and con- 

 cave superior border. The extremity of the maxillary bone does not 

 quite reach the line of the anterior border of the orbit. 



The ventral fin commences opposite the second or third dorsal ray, and 

 reaches the vent, but not the anal fin ; the latter is small in all dimen- 

 •sions. The pectoral fin covers three-fifths the space between its base 

 and that of the ventral. The length of the head is about one-fifth the 

 total, including caudal fin, and is a little greater than the greatest depth 

 of the body. 



The color is silvery, without dark markings on the head or body. 

 There is a black spot on the middle of several anterior dorsal rays, and 

 a small but ver}' black one at the origin of the caudal fin on the bases 

 of the rays. Total length m. .063 . 



As compared with G. ornatus, according to Baird and Girard's descrip- 

 tion and figure, in the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, the 

 present fish presents various diiferences. In that species the ventral 

 fins originate below the first dorsal si)ine, and there are but six anal rays, 

 etc. Its color is also quite distinct, resembling more that of Pimepliales 

 in the general suffusion of dark color over the dorsal and caudal fins and 

 the absence of the characteristic black spot at the base of the latter. 



Abundant in the Trinity Eiver at Fort Worth. 



Cijprinella venusta Girard. (United States and Mexican Boundary 

 Survey, II, p. 54 pi. xxxij figs. 1-4.) I made the above identifica- 

 tion provisionally, and Professor Jordan informs me that it is correct. 

 Since Girard omits most of the imx^ortant characters of this fish in his 

 short description, I give the following diagnosis for future use : Orbit 

 large, contained 3.5 times in length of head and 1.4 times in interorbital 



