lOG CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY — HI. 



The case is precisely like that of the genus of Doves, Leptopiila Swaiusou, lately named 

 ^chmoptila by Dr. Coues, ou account of the previous Leptoptilus of Lessou." — (Jordan, 

 Bull. U. S. Geol. iSurv. Terr, vol iv, No. 2, p. 418, 1878.) 



ANALYSIS OP SPECIES OF QUASSILABIA. 



•Head short, conical, with lengthened snout, the region between the eyes flattened 

 and with prominent mucous ridges : cheeks and lower part of head rather swollen : 

 opercle much reduced, its greatest length scarcely greater than the diameter of the 

 eye : head about 4J in length : eye 4J in length of head, about 2 iu length of the snout, 

 its situation thus quite posterior; length of the top of the head If iu the distance 

 from the snout to the base of the dorsal. Body rather slender, the form being 

 between that of Myxostoma cervinum and M. macrolepidotum, the depth 4J in the length. 

 Dorsal fin rather low ; its rays I, 12; A. I, 7; V. 9. Scales 5-45-5. Color olive or 

 bluish-brown above; sides and belly silvery ; lower fins faintly orange. .. laceka, 1. 



1. QUASSILABIA LACERA Jordan <fc Brayton. 



Hare-lip Sucker. Split-mouth Sucker. May Sucker of the Scioto. Cut-lips. 

 1877 — LagocMla lacera Jordan & Brayton, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila. 280, 1877. 

 Lugochila lacera Jordan, Man. Vert. ed.2d, oil, 1878. 

 Quasailabia lacera Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 2d, 406, 1878. 

 Quassilaiia lacera Jordan, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr. 418, 1878. 

 Habitat. — Tennessee River. Scioto River. 



Only three specimens of this singular Sucker are yet known. Two of 

 these were taken by Professor Brayton and myself in the Chickamauga 

 Eiver at Kinggold, Catoosa County, Georgia, and the other in Elk Eiver 

 near Estill Springs, Tennessee. In both these streams, the s[)ecies was 

 well known to the fishermen, who Siiid that it is one of the most abun- 

 dant species in those waters, and one of the most highly valued for food. 

 In the Cliickamauga, it is known us the Hare-lip or Split mouth Sucker 

 None of tbe specimens takt'U were mature, the largest being but ten 

 inches long, so that its maximum size cannot be given. 



Since the above was written, a fine large specimen has been sent to me 

 by J. H. Klippart, Esq., of the Ohio Fish Commission. It was taken in 

 Scioto Riv^er near Columbus, in April, 1878. Mr. Klippart informs me 

 that the species is well known to the Scioto fishermen, who call it May 

 Sucker, as it runs up the river in May. That so strongly marked a spe- 

 cies has so long escaped the attention of ichthyologists in the State of 

 Ohio is singular. 



Specimens in United States National Museum. 



