1G4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY III. 



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

 with other species of Catostomiis aud Myxostoma, it ascends all our West- 

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



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

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

 great abundance, the clear tributaries of the Etowah, Oostanaula, and 

 Coosa Rivers, in company with Potamocoftus ^ueridionalis {zopherns)^ a 

 species to which the young of the Catosiomns 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 api)earance have given rise to a 

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

 dis])osed of. The oldest specific name, nigricans, has been the one most 

 generally employed. The generic name used depends on wlu'thtr we 

 consider this si)ecies generically distinct from the type of Catostomus or 

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

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

 chara(;ters, had failed to provide it with iiny which can stand our tests. 

 The name Bijlomyzon, being a simple synonym of Hiji^entcUum, of course 

 cannot be used. Kafinesque's account is nuieh inferior to that of Pro- 

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

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

 for it cannot be set aside. 



Specimens in United Stales National Museutn. 



Number. 



7644 

 8446 

 8702 

 9061 

 9069 

 12295 



15246 

 20066 

 2010l» 

 20260 

 20270 



Localitv. 



Collectcr. 



Cayng.i Lake, New York 



Cint-inii.iti, Ohio J. W. Milncr. 



CcorHi", Mich J. W. Mil nor. 



BainbridRO, Pa T. H. Ut-aii. 



Black Rver, Ohio S. K. B.iinl. 



Teniiesseo ' IWkwitb. 



Yellow Creek. Ohio I S. I\ Bair.l. 



Roof River, WiHCuiisiii j 



Etowah River, Georgia (typesof Viir. ttniranus) r». S.-lonlan. 



White River, Indiana 1). S. .Jordan. 



S,i\ :iiiii.ili h'ivir 1 D. S. Jordau. 



