FISHES — AMIADAE — AMIA OCELLICAUDA. 



349 



The latter, however, is more local, and seems to have originated amongst the settlers of the 

 western and northwestern States. In the lake Champlain, it is known as the "bowfin ;" the 

 name of "mud-fish" prevailing at the south, and that of "marsh-fish" at the extreme north, in 

 Canada especially. 



AMIA, Linn. 



Gen. Char. — Body elongated, sub-cylindrical, somewhat deeper than broad, else compressed, covered with flexible and 

 imbricated, posteriorly rounded or sub-angular scales, mailed or ganoid in structure. The head is rather short and rounded ; 

 its upper surface being depressed, naked, exhibiting conspicuous sutures. The mouth large, and the jaws sub-equal, provided 

 with conical teeth and an exterior xow of smaller pavement-like ones within. The gill apertures are continuous under the 

 throat ; an elongated bony buckler exists between the branches of the lower jaw, extending from its symphysis to the 

 edge of the gill openings. There are twelve flattened branchiostegal rays on either side — else, eleven on one side and twelve 

 on the other. A long and rather low dorsal fin ; a short and proportionally deep anal. The caudal is rounded upon its 

 posterior margin, and sub-homocercal at the base. Ventrals abdominal in position. The air bladder exhibits a cellular 

 structure similar to that of some reptiles. 



SYH.—Amia, Linn. Syst. nat. ed. XII, 1766, 500 — Gm. in Lirui. Syst. nat. cd. XIII, I, iii, 1788, 1352. — Cuv. Regn. Anim. 

 II, 1817, 179 ; 2ded. II, 1829 ; &, cd. illustr. Poiss. 284.— DeKay, New Y. Fauna IV, 18i2, 270.— Stobeb, 

 Synops. 184G, 212 —Cuv. & Val. Hist. nat. Poiss. XIX, 1846, 402.— Dcm. Ichthyol. analyt. 1850, 490. 



There is no genus the monographic study of which would be more desirable than that of 

 Aniia, for, opinions are very much at variance as to the number of species to be admitted in the 

 ichthyic method. By some writers only one is recognized ; whilst others distinguish as many as 

 ten or twelve, all inhabitants of fresh waters of North America. 



With hut scanty materials before us we are ill prepared to prosecute investigations regarding 

 specific characters, and the few specimens which we have examined are recorded further on 

 under such headings as were thought most akin. But whenever a complete collection of these 

 fishes shall have been brought together, it is our aim to compare critically the specimens from 

 the various localities, with a view of ascertaining the number of species which really exist. 



1. AMIA OCELLICAUDA, Richards. 



3Iarsh-Fish, Dog-Fish. 



Spec. Char. — An oblong black spot, with a lighter margin, obliquely situated at the base of the upper lobe of the caudal 

 fin and inclined forwards. Head contained four times and a half in the total length. Insertion of ventrals nearer the base 

 of the caudal than the extremity of the snout. Anterior margin of anal fin nearer the base of the pectorals than the 

 posterior margin of the caudal. 



Srn.—Amia ocelUcauda, Eicuards. Faun. Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836, 230 —Cuv. & Val. Hist. nat. Poiss, XIX, 1846, 422. 



The specimen observed is eighteen inches in total length, in a very perfect state of preserva- 

 tion, save the coloration, the freshness of which is always impaired by a protracted immersion 

 in alcohol. It is referred provisionally to Eichardson's species without critical examination, 

 until an opportunity shall he afforded us to study and compare all the species of this genus. 



List of specimens. 



