FISHES — CYPEINID AlE PIMEPHALES. 



233 



4. HYBORHYNCHUS CONFERTUS, Grd. 

 Plate LIX, Figs. 11—15. 



Spec. Char. — Head constituting the fifth of the total length. Eye sub-circular: its diameter entering nearly four times in 

 the length of the side of the head. Greatest depth of the body more than the length of the head. Caudal fin entering five 

 times in the total length. Insertion of ventral fins situated opposite the anterior margin of the dorsal. Scales rounded upon 

 their anterior edge also. Pale reddish above ; yellowish beneath. A black spot at the anterior margin of the dorsal. Peduncle 

 of tail with a dark streak along its middle. 



SYJi.—ffiiborhyncInis con/ertus, Gfd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 179. 



This species has a short and contracted appearance, resembling somewhat a diminutive Moxos- 

 toma. The opercular apparatus acquires also a considerable development. Its body is covered 

 with scales rather larger than those of H. puniceus, although smaller than the other hitherto 

 known species of its genus. They are much deeper than long, convex upon the anterior as 

 well as posterior edge, and provided with radiating furrows upon their posterior portion alone. 



The color is of a pale reddish tint above, and yellowish beneath ; a black spot being observed 

 at the anterior margin of the dorsal. A dark narrow streak is seen on the middle of the 

 caudal region. 



Eeftreiices to tlie fgures. — Plate LIX, fig. 11, represents Hyhorhynchus confertus, size of life. 

 Fig. 12, a section of the body across the line of greatest depth. Fig. 13, a dorsal scale. Fig. 

 14, a scale from the lateral line. Fig. 15, a scale from the abdominal region. 



List of specimens. 



PIMEPHALES, Rafin. 



Gen. Char. — Body sub-fusiform when seen in profile, compressed, however, as usually. The head is large, short, and the 

 snout very blunt. The mouth is small, slightly arched, and terminal ; the jaws being even. The eye is of moderate development. 

 The isthmus is proportionally wide. The dorsal fin is somewhat higher than long, provided anteriorly with a rather thick and 

 undivided, short and hard ray. Caudal fin posteriorly emarginated. The origin of the ventrals takes place either immediately 

 opposite the anterior margin of the dorsal, or else a little posterior to it. The scales are rather large, a good deal deeper than 

 long, and the lateral line, after a slight deflection along the thoracic region, follows the middle of the flanks to the base of the 

 caudal fin. The pharyngeal bones are of moderate stoutness, gently arched, the upper and lower limb nearly equal though the 

 t.pper is more curved ; the convex portion is regularly dilated or expanded. The teeth are of the cultriform kind of the grinding 

 type, very slightly hooked, compressed, with a narrow grinding surface, and disposed upon one single row of four: 4 — 4. 



Syn. — Fimephales, Rafin. Ichth. Ohiens. 1820, 52.— Stoker, Synops. 1846, 1G6. — Agass. in Amer Journ. of Sc. 2d series, 

 XIX, 1835, 220.— Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 180. 



The type of this genus, P. promelas, is not uncommon in several of the small tributaries of 

 the Ohio river. It would have added a great deal of interest to this report had we had the 

 opportunity of giving a good figure and a minute description of this fi.sh. We hope the time 

 is not far remote when we shall be prepared to complete our researches upon the fresh water 

 fishes of North America. 

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