164 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY III. 



as food, bat is often caught by boys with a spear or snare. In company 

 with other species of Catostomus and Myxostoma, it ascends all our West- 

 ern streams in April for the purpose of depositing its spawn. 



The Southern form, which I have designated as var. etowanus, is more 

 intensely colored and differs in some minor respects. It frequents, in 

 great abundance, the clear tributaries of the Etowah, Oostanaula, and 

 Coosa Eivers, in company with Potamocottus meridionalis (zoplierus), a 

 species to which the young of the Catostomus bears much resemblance 

 as seen in the water. 



The synonymy of this species has been well worked out by Professor 

 Agassiz. The variations in age and appearance have given rise to a 

 number of nominal species, most of which have, however, already been 

 disposed of. The oldest specific name, nigricans, has been the one most 

 generally employed. The generic- name used depends on whether we 

 consider this species generically distinct from the type of Catostomus or 

 not. It would seem if we may so speak as if Nature had intended 

 Hypentelium for a distinct genus, but not being an expert in generic 

 characters, had failed to provide it with any which can stand our tests. 

 The name Hylomyzon, being a simple synonym of Hypentelium^ of course 

 cannot be used. Rafinesque's account is much inferior to that of Pro- 

 fessor Agassiz, and the figure given by him is one of the worst ever 

 published, still his typical species is readily identifiable, and his name 

 for it cannot be set aside. 



Specimens in United States National Museum. 



