62 BULLETIN 41, TJNITED STATE.S NATIONAL MU.SEUM. 



1859. GiRAKD, CiiAULES — Contiuiifd. 



series of monographs, as already begun (see No. 26), we shall be better prepared to do justice 

 to that part of tliis subject. 



Wc have dwelt at some lengtli upon two groups — the Cataphneti, or mailed cheeks, and 

 the Embiotocoids, or vivaparous family, both of tliem having numerous representatives 

 ah)ug the Pacific coast. They constitute the most prominent feature of tlie ichthyic fauna 

 of tliat region of the North American cimtinent, together with the Trachinids and the 

 Heterolepids, which seemingly bring into closer relationshi])s tlie Percoids and the Cottoids, 

 properly so culled. The true Percoids themselves appear isolated west of the Rocky Moun- 

 tain range. 



Tlie Spliyneniil I'amily is represented by one species of the genus Sphi/r(cna. 



The Sciienoids, so far as observed, are few in numbers, and remind us of the Atlantic 

 types. 



Not a single species of Sparoids has. as yet, come to our knowledge from the coasts of 

 Oregon and California. 



As to the Atherinoid family, we tind in California a rather large species designated by the 

 settlers umler the name of "Smelt, " possibly on account of its delicacy, and which is. truly 

 speaking, an ally of the '" Silverside " or "Silver-fish " of our Atlantic coast, and the "Peace 

 del Key" or " Pescadilla del Key" of Central and South America. The "Silver-fish" being 

 of a diminutive size, even when full grown, its esculent (qualities have remained unnoticed 

 by either fishermen or gastronomers. The "Pesce del Key" tells its own story. 



The scarcity of Scomberoids is a curious feature in the fauna of our western coast; a 

 Mackerel (Scomber), a Bonito (Pelami/n) and two (Caranx), constitute thus far the entire 

 known list. But we venture to say that further researches will bring to light many more 

 of them. 



The only .species of Chetodonts we are acquainted with from the western coast was ob- 

 tained in the southern part of the State of California. 



The Blennioid family is seemingly more numerous than the preceeding ones, new generic 

 ty peii (Xeocliniis, Xiphidiiin, Apodichthyx, Cebidichthye, ;mA Aiiarrichthys) having been found, 

 along with species of known genera (Blennhu, Gunncllus, and Lumpenus). 



The Gobioids, properly so called, are comparatively scarce, two species of the genus Oobiug 

 constituting the entire known list. 



The Cycloptcrids, or Discoboli, are represented by two species also, one of which is a 

 Lepadogaster, the other a Cyclogaster. 



The 15atraclioid or toad fish family has furnished one species to the I'auna, exhibiting the 

 characters of a new genus, which we have called I'orichthijs. 



The Labroids proper are anything but numerous, the Embiotocoids being considered as a 

 separate family. We believe, nevertheless, that msiuy more will be discovered along the 

 southern coast of California. 



The Pomacentrid familj-, or marine Labroids, with pectinated scales, has yielded one species, 

 which we place in the genus Glyphinodun, not having the means of determining more accu- 

 rately its generieal position. 



The Chromids, or fresh- water Labroids with pectinated scales also, have not yet been met 

 with along the Pacific range of North America. We have evidences of their ])resence in the 

 basin of the Kio Grande del Norte (Kio Bravo), one species being figured and described in 

 the " Icbthy(dogy " of the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. 



The Scomberesocids, or "garfishes," on the other hand, arerepresented, thus far, by a species 

 of billfish (Belone). 



The Gadoid family has given us a Cod. a Whiting ( Merlangus). and a Cusk (Broarnius); 

 the latter we have not examined. 



The Pleuronectids, or tiatfishes, are tolerably well represented, though we observe, as yet, 

 no turbots C7?/)0)n,6M») proper. The halibut ( Hi2}poglust:vi! ) is spokffli of as occurring along 

 the coast, but we have not had it in our hands. 



The Ophidioid family is represented by two known genera. Ophidioit and Ainmodytes, 

 whilst the true eels have not yet been heard of. 



The SaluKuioids are abnudant. especially in species of the Linnean genus Salmo. to which 

 may be added a white fish (Coregonw!) and two smelts, one belonging to the genus Oamerus, 

 the other to that of Thalcichthys of recent creation. 



No Characinids are known north of the valley of the Kio Grande del Norte (Rio Bravo), 

 in which one species was collected by the Mexican Boundary Commission, in whose report it 

 is figured and described. 



The Sco])elids have furnished us, so far, with one species of the genus Saiintx from the 

 Pacific coast. 



The fresh waters teem with Cyprinoids and Percoids, the former east and west of the 

 Kocky Mountains, the latter almost solely eastw.ardly. in the shape of suulislns ( I'diuotin') 

 and bass (A mblopliteg and Centrarchus), a single sjiecies of bass having been nutin-d in Call- 

 Ibriiia. 



