164 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY III. 



as food, but is often caught by boys with a spear or snare. In company 

 with other species of Catostomus and Myxostoma, it ascends all our \Yest- 

 ern streams in April for the purpose of depositing its spawn. 



The Southern form, which I have designated as var. etowanus, is more 

 intensely colored and differs in some minor respects. It frequents, in 

 great abundance, the clear tributaries of the Etowab, Oo&tanaula, and 

 Coosa Rivers, in company with Potaniocotfus mcridionalis {zopherns), a 

 species to which the young of the Catostomus bears much resemblance 

 as seen in the water. 



The synonymy of this species has been well worked out by Professor 

 Agassiz. The variations in age and appearance have given rise to a 

 number of nominal species, most of which have, however, already been 

 disposed of. The oldest specific name, nigricans, has been the one most 

 generally employed. The generic name used depends on whether we 

 consider this species generically distinct from the type of Catostomus or 

 not. It would seem — if we may so speak— as if Nature had intended 

 HypenteUum for a distinct genus, but not being an expert in generic 

 characters, had failed to provide it with any which can stand our tests. 

 The name Hylomyzon, being a simple synonym of Hypentelium, of course 

 cannot be used. Rafinesque's account is much inferior to that of Pro- 

 fessor Agassiz, and the figure given by him is one of the worst ever 

 published, still his typical species is readily identifiable, and his name 

 for it cannot be set aside. 



Specimens in United States National Museum. 



Number. 



7644 

 844G 

 8762 

 9061 

 9069 

 12295 



15246 

 20066 

 20106 

 20260 

 20270 



Locality. 



Collector. 



Cayuga Lake, New York 



Cincinnati, Ohio 



]3corse, Mich 



Bainbridge, Pa 



Black ElVer, Ohio 



Tennessee 



Yellow Creek, Ohio 



Root River, Wisconsin 



Etowah River, Georgia (types of var. etoim7nt8) 



White River, Indiana 



Savannah River 



J.W.Milner. 

 J.W.Miluer. 

 T. H. Bean. 

 S. F. Baird. 

 Beckwith. 

 S. F. Baird. 



D. S. Jordan. 

 D. S. Jordan. 

 D. S. Jordan. 



