2 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1886. 



1. Noturus flavus, Eafinesqiie. 



One taken iu the river. 



2. Amiurus uebulosus, Le Sueur. 

 Anal rays 22. 



3. Ictalurus punctatus, Eafinesque. 



Very common iu the river channel ; also in the bayoa. 



4. Ictiobus velifer, Eafinesque. 



Common iu the river. 



Bluish silvery above, silvery below, with darker streaks along the 

 rows of scales. Paired fins red; other fins pale olive. Mouth small, 

 the snout projecting much beyond it. Longest dorsal rays reaching 

 nearly to end of fin in adult, rather shorter in the young; D. 20. Scales, 

 7-37-5. Head, 4 in length ; depth, 3. 



No one has yet obtained sufficient material for the thorough study of 

 the Buffalo fishes. At present we regard the group called Carpiodes as 

 containing three distinct species. I. cyprmus, Le Sueur, found only 

 east of the mountains, and characterized by the nearly smooth, scarcely 

 striate opercle, and by the small size of the eye. I. carpio, distin- 

 guished by the elongate form, short head and low dorsal fin, and I. vel- 

 ifer having the general form of 7. cyprinus and a strongly striate opercle 

 like J. carpio. 



Among the specimens referred to I. velifer, we find much difference 

 in the form of the body, the size of the head, the position of the mouth, 

 the size of the eye, and in the height of the dorsal fin. We find indi-. 

 viduals corresponding more or less perfectly to the descriptions or the typi- 

 cal examples of I. tumidus, damalis, grayi, thompsoni, bison, velifer, selene, 

 cutisanserinus, and difformis, as well as others apparently in all degrees 

 intermediate. Either all constitute one polymorphous species, or else 

 we have as yet failed to separate individual from specific characters, and 

 the latter still remain to be detected. Generally no doubt exists in re- 

 gard to I. carpio {=nummifer. Cope), and I. cyprinus {=vacca, Agassiz), 

 but puzzling and variant specimens of these are occasionally found. 



5. Mozostoma macrolepidotum duquesnei, Le Sueur. 

 Common in the river. D. 12 to 14. 



6. Campostoma anoraalum, Eafinesque. 



But one specimen seen — in Village Creek. 



7. Hybognathus nuchalis, Agassiz. 



A specimen agreeing entirely with the ordinary nuchalis type, but 

 much darker in color. 



In life, light green, silvery below, with dark punctulations. A black 

 vertebral streak and a rather distinct dusky lateral band, not ending in 

 a spot at base of caudal. Caudal yellowish. 



