192 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICnTHYOLOGY III. 



1835. Since then it has been generally received by authors undei' the 

 same name and with the same limits. It was first briefly outlined by 

 Iiaiines(|ue in ISl'U under the name of Catyiodes, then afterwards by 

 Valenciennes deliued more fully under the name of Solcrognathus. Both 

 Carpiodcs and Sckrognathus having the same typical species {Catostomu.s 

 cijpylnns Le Sueur), the older and preferable name, Carpiodes,iii the one 

 to be adopted. 



Tiie recognition of species in this genus is a matter of extreme diUi- 

 culty, from their great resemblance to each other in color, size, form, 

 and gt'iieral appearance. Uur knowledge of the species thus far has 

 been almost entirely due to the labors of Professor Cope (A Partial Syn- 

 opsis of the Fishes of North Carolina", Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. Phila. 

 1870). I have myself examinetl specimens agreeing with each of Pro- 

 fessor Cope's descriptions, and, with two exception {Carpiodes selene and 

 Carpiodes grayi)^ I am disposed to admit all his species. It is true, how- 

 ever, that in every large collection of Carpiodes there are specimens 

 disagreeing more or less from the typical forms of each species, and 

 which should, in consistency, be described as distinct species, or else 

 the si)ecies which they appear to connect should be united. I have not, 

 however, examined a sufficiently full series of Carpiodes to be pre- 

 pared to accej)t either of these alternatives. I have, therefore, taken 

 Professor Coi)e's analysis of the species, and added to it such addi- 

 tional features as I have been able to observe, and 1 give the whole as 

 our best knowledge at present on the subject, leaving for future study 

 the consideration of the degree of relationship existing between cjjprinus, 

 vclifer, and tliompsoni. The other four species, carpio, bison, cutisause- 

 rinu.s, and difformiSj seem to be manifestly distinct, unless diffor)nis be 

 a monstrous form of cut isatiser inns. 



Species of this genus are found in all the fresh waters of the United 

 States east of the llocky Mountains. They seldom ascend the small 

 streams, and are taken by means of nets from the larger rivers and 

 lakes. From their resemblance in form to the European CnT[){Cypriuus 

 carpio), they are i)opularly known as "Carp''. This resemblance has 

 suggested the name of the genus and of two of its species. As food 

 fishes they are rather indillerent, the flesh being rather coarse and flavor- 

 less and full of small bones. The geographical distiiltiition ol thespecies 

 has been little studied. C. cf/prinus is the common species east of the 

 AUeghanies, and, if "C damalis"' and " C. iumidus'^ be the same, in 

 thi' Ui>per Missouri region and the Kio Grande also. C. tliowpsoni is the 



