494 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Genus PCECILICHTHYS, Agassiz. 



7. PcBcilichthys artesiae, Hay, sp. nov. (No. 27,434.) 



lu tliis 8])ecit\s the body is more elongated than usual, and consider- 

 ably compressed. The head is large and contained in the length to 

 caudal fin 3^- times; depth in length 5 times. Caudal peduncle con- 

 tained in the length of the body 4^ ; its depth one-half its length. 



Mouth largo, the maxillary reaching to a vertical from the pui)il, 

 terminal, nearly horizontal; the lower jaw slightly shorter than the up- 

 ])er. Gill-membrane rather broadly connected across the breast. 



The eye equal to the snout, and contained in the head 4^ times. Tlie 

 cheelvs are wholly covered with small scales, resembling in this respect 

 P. asjyrigenis, Forbes, from Central Illinois. The opercles are covered 

 with large scales. The scales on the region between the occiput and 

 the dorsal fin are very small. 



There are along the sides about 56 vertical rows of scales, 8 horizontal 

 rows above the lateral line and 11 below. The lateral line extends 

 slightly behind the x)osterior end of the soft dorsal, being absent on 

 about 10 or 12 scales. Just above the base of the pectoral fin, on eiich 

 side, there is an enlarged black scale. 



The two dorsals are contiguous, the membrane of the first reaching 

 the second. The fin-rays are, D. XI, l."); A. U, 7. The length of tlie 

 first dorsal, measured from the first to the last spine, e(pial to the length 

 of the head ; its height less than half it.s length. The soft dorsal seven- 

 ninths the length of the head: its height about four-fifths its length. 

 The anal is in length a little more than one-half the length of the head ; 

 its height also one-half the head. ' 



The pectoral and ventral*fins reach backward to the same point. The 

 pectorals are much s:naller than in P. cccridcus (Stor.) Ag., reaching 

 back only three-fifths the distance from their origin to the vent, while 

 in that species they extend backward four-fifths this distance. 



Color. — Sides yellowish olive, with indications of transverse and 

 oblique bars of dark, and sprinlcled with many small blotches of car- 

 mine. Pectorals and ventrals dull blue. Dorsals vrith a broad baud of 

 carmine running along the middle, bordered on each side with orange. 

 The tips of the dorsals dull blue, as is also the base of the soft dorsal. 

 Base of the spinous dorsal with several blotches of cannine. Anal 

 mostly crimson, tipped with blue. Caudal first blue, then orange, then 

 carmine, followed by orange, and tipped with blue. The iris is yellow. 

 Length of the only specimen obtained 2^' inches. 



Prom a small branch flowing into the Catawba, itself tributary to the 

 Tombigbee. 



A brilliant little fish, attracting by its bright colors the ej^e at a dis- 

 tance of many feet. 



The palatine teeth of this species form a broad band, whereas in 

 P. cocrnhus they are few in number and in a single row. 



