34 ON THE ZOOLOGICAL POSITION OF TEXAS. 



Zygoncctes nofatns Eaf. ; Fundulus oUvaceus Stor. The Trinity Eiver, 

 at Fort Worth. 



ZijgonecUs hrachyptenis sp. nov. Base of first dorsal ray behind the 

 vertical line equally dividing the base of the anal; radii, few, D. 7, A. 

 8; veutrals not reaching base of anal. Scales large, in nine longitudinal 

 and thirty transverse rows. Head wide, with overhanging supercilia ; 

 interorbital width twice the diameter of the orbit, which enters the 

 length of the head 2.5 times. Head entering length, with caudal fin, 5.5 

 times, and equalling the length of the caudal fin. Color uniform oliva- 

 ceous ', the scales with brown edges ; cheeks silvery ; no spots on the 

 head. Length m. .049. This plain species, distinguished by the small 

 number of its fin rays and its robust form, was taken in the Trinity 

 Eiver at Fort Worth. 



NEMATOGNATHI. 



Ichthwlvrus coerulescens Eafinesque, Gill, Co;":. From the Trinity at 

 Fort Worth and Dallas and the Little Wichita. The name first adopted 

 by Gill from Eafinesque, and frequently used by later writers, is very 

 appropriate to this fish, and should not, it seems to me, give way to 

 the Silurus imnetatus Eaf., a very inappropriate name, unless it be abso- 

 lutely necessary. In view of the frequent uncertainty of the identifica- 

 tion of Eafiuesque's names, I have in this instance followed the next suc- 

 ceeding author who has used such name, and believe that it will be to 

 the advantage of the subject to allow such use to remain as authorita- 

 tive in all cases. The reopening of the subject in doubtful cases is, from 

 ail points of view, unprofitable. 



Amlurus Jupus Girard. A compressed and rather slender species, 

 with the caudal fin emarghiate for about one-fifth of its length. Head 

 short, moderately elevated behind, about one-fourth the length less 

 the caudal fin. Eye entering length of head 5.5 times, and interor- 

 bital width 4 times, over convexity. Depth at front of anal fin a lit- 

 tle less than length of head. Eadii: D. I-G; A. 22; P. 1-9-10. The 

 spines an*, rather long and irregularly grooved. Those of both dorsal 

 and pectoral fins have a remote serration on their anterior faces; and 

 while the pectoral exhibits low teeth on its posterior face, that part of 

 the dorsal spine is smooth. The postclavicular process is acute and 

 grooved. The maxillary barbels extend to the middle of the pectoral 

 spines, and the nasal barbel reaches to above the middle of the pre- 

 opercular border. The median mental barbels extend to the bases of 

 the branchiostegal rays, and the external ones to bej-oud their extremi- 



