110 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
NOTES ON THE NOMENCLATURE OF CERTAIN NORTH AMERICAN 
FISHES, 
By DAVID 8S. JORDAN and CHARLES H. GILBERT. 
1. Lepidosteus spatula Lacépede. 
We have been enabled to compare the ‘Alligator Gar” of the South- 
ern United States, with a Cuban ‘ Manjuari” (L. tristechus Bloch & 
Schneider) in the museum of Cornell University. It is probable that 
our species is distinct from the latter. The most prominent difference 
is in the development of the fulera, the number of these on each of the 
fins being about twice as many in our specimens of spatula as in the 
single example of tristechus examined. The number of scales in a vertical 
series is rather greater in the former. The number of fulcra increases 
somewhat with age, and it may be that this character will prove worth- 
less. At present, however, it is best to retain the name spatula for the 
species found in the United States. 
2. Ictiobus. 
We find ourselves unable to recognize Ictiobus, Bubalichthys, and Car- 
piodes as distinct genera; they may be united under the earliest name, 
Ictiobus. An examination of Rafinesque’s manuscript note-books, now 
preserved in the National Museum, shows, beyond a doubt, that the 
original Catostomus bubalus of Rafinesque was identical with the Cato- 
stomus bubalus of Kirtland, or the Bubalichthys bubalus of Agassiz. It is 
likely that the number of species in the group called Carpiodes has been 
much exaggerated. It is thought by Professor Forbes and Mr. Garman, 
who have worked over the very extensive material in the Illinois Labor- 
atory of Natural History, that not more than two valid species exist. 
The same conclusiou has been independently reached by Messrs. Swain 
and Kalb in the study of our own collections. We may, therefore, pro- 
visionally recognize the following as the known species of Ictiobus : 
1. Ictiobus (Sclerognathus) cyprinella (C. & V.) Ag. (Ichthyobus bubalus 
Ag. non Raf.). 
2. Ictiobus (Ictiobus) urus (Ag.) J. & G. 
3. Ictiobus (Ictiobus) bubalus (Raf.) J. & G. 
4. Ictiobus (Carpiodes) carpio (Raf.) Nelson. 
5. Ictiobus (Carpiodes) cyprinus (Le 8.) J. & G. 
3. Esox vermiculatus Le Sueur. 
It is evident from Rafinesque’s manuscripts and drawings above 
noticed, that his Hsox vittatus and Hsoxr salmoneus are mythical, being 
known only from fraudulent drawings. The common small pickerel of 
the West, for which the name Esov salmoneus has been used by us, should 
stand as Esoxr vermiculatus Le Sueur, this name being prior to Hsox um- 
brosus Kirtland. 
