93 



the back, wilh a straight dorsal outline, nape 

 not elevated. 



Mouth small, the tip of the maxillary by 

 no means reaching the border of the orbit; 

 lower jaw received beneath the upper. 



Border of the opercular apparatus forming 

 a smooth and regular curve. 



Lateral line curving gently downward, pas- 

 sing nearer the ventrals than the dorsal fin, 

 thence rising, and at length running straight 

 to the caudal fin. 



Scales small, numbering about a hundred 

 anti ten along the lateral line, and twenty- 

 four in an oblique line above it at the origin 

 of the dorsal fin ; they are strongly impressed 

 with radiating striae. 



The dorsal tin arises a little nearer to the 

 caudal rays than to the snout. Its length 

 equals the distance from the snout to the 

 border of the preoperculum, being contained 

 seven times in the length to the tip of the 

 central caudal rays: the height of the fifth 

 ray, which is the longest, is greater than the 

 length of the fin. 



The anal arises posterior to the termination 

 of the dorsal ; it resembles that fin in form 

 but is smaller, its length equalling only ihe 

 distance from the snout to tiie middle of the 

 eye. 



The origin of the ventrals is posterior to 

 that of the dorsal, which fin they very nearly 

 equal in height. 



The pectorals are rounded, and slightly 

 exceed the ventrals in height 



The caudal is large, deeply concave, the 

 height of the external rays exceeding the 

 greatest depth of the body, the height of the 

 central rays half that of the external. The 

 great number and prominence of the acces- 

 sory rays causes the fin to spring out sudden- 

 ly from the caudal portion of the body, thus 

 giving occasion for the name by which the 

 fish is designated, as already mentioned. 



C. 4-10; A. 3-8; V. 1-10; P. 17; C. 19. 

 with twelve accessories. 



Color dark grayish brown above, lighter on 

 the sides and beneath, a darker band passing 

 from the base of one pectoral across the nape 

 to the base of the other. 



G. microtepidota is taken in the lower 

 waters of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, 

 in company with the other species of this 

 family described in the Proceedings of the 

 Academy. The form of its head indicates 

 the propriety of a different generic position, 

 and it is also separated from Gila by the 

 structure of its inferior pharyngeal bones. 

 But from the same reason that has been given 

 in previous instances (the absence ol any 

 means in California of comparison with es- 



tablished forms, and the lack even of works 

 of reference containing the divisions of the 

 Cyprinidae, as at present recognized) it has 

 been deemed advisable not to propose at 

 present a new generic name. 



Seven types of this family are brought to 

 our markets, representing four genera, and 

 liable probably to still further generic divi- 

 sion, viz : — Gila grand-is, Ayres ; Gila micro- 

 lepdota, Ayres ; Pogonichthys inaquilobits, B. 

 and G. ; Lavina gil/bosa, Ayres ; L. compressa, 

 Ayres : L. cxilicauda, B. and G ; and Catosto- 

 mus orcidentalis, Ayres. It is extremely prob- 

 able that others also occur, but" apparently 

 not in any great numbers. In particular we 

 may look for Lavinia crassicauda, B. and G., 

 which we have as yet not seen. Of other 

 smaller Cyprinoids, five or six California spe 

 cies have been already detected, but scarcely 

 of sufficient size to be marketable, and be- 

 yond question many yet remain concealed in 

 our lagoons, lakes, anil mountain streams. 



Dr. Trask presented, on behalf of Mr. 

 Humphrey of Marysville, a cluster of Quartz 

 Crystals of remarkable size and beauty, from 

 Rich Gulch on Feather river. 



Also, a tooth of a Mastodon from Sonora, 

 in the name or Mr. Gunn. 



Also, specimons of Sulphuret of Copper 

 and Blende from Hope Valley, Utah Territory, 

 in the name of Maj. G. C. Shipman, Jackson- 



Also, a copy of Stansbury's Expedition, 

 from Mr. B. F. Washington. The thanks of 

 the Academy were voted to the donors. 



Dr. Trask also presented eighty specimens 

 of land and marine shells, from China. 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



January 1, 1855. 

 Dr. A. Kellogg in the chair. 

 On motion of Dr. J. B. Trask, — 

 Resolved, That the Academy adjourn until 

 Saturday evening, January 6lh, at seven 

 o'clock, for the reception of the Annual Re- 

 ports of the Trustees, and other Officers — the 

 election of officers for this year — and the 

 action of such other business as may 

 come before the Annual Meeting — and that 

 every member be earnestly requested to bo 

 ent 

 Adjourned. 



