50 



Gila grandis, Ayres, Girard, Pike — This, as Ayres enthusiastically 

 remarks, " is by far the finest fish of its family known to inhabit the 

 waters of this continent." 



It did not occur in the markets of this city in October, November, 

 or December; but from January 6th, when I first observed an indi- 

 vidual 2' 91" long, until the end of May, has been tolerably abun- 

 dant. The largest measured by Ayres was three feet long, but he 

 reports examples weighing thirty pounds, and I have been told that 

 it sometimes approaches four feet in length. 



The name "pike," under which it is now generally sold, is as great 

 a misnomer as that of " salmon trout," which Ayres gives as a deal- 

 er's name. The absurdity of both names will be evident to any one 

 who remembers that both pike and salmon have a mouth liberally 

 supplied with teeth, while the Cyprinidx are all literally toothless as 

 regards the mouth, their only teeth being on the pharyngeal bones 

 in the throat. But the shape of the head, depressed in front, recall^ 

 that of the pike. It is a handsome fish, dark greenish gold on the 

 top of the head, and the same, but lighter, on the back, and still 

 lighter behind the dorsal fin, the color fading on the sides to silvery 

 with golden reflections, and on the abdomen to plain silvery. 



As the largest species found east of the Mississippi, Semotitus buUa- 

 ris, rarely attains, according to Professor Jordan, '" a weight of three 

 or four pounds, and a length of nearly eighteen inches," it is evident 

 that the present species is a giant among the minnows. 



Pogoiiichthys ineequilobus, Girard, Split-tail — This species has been 

 brought to market in tolerable abundance during the spring in com- 

 pany with Catostomus occidentcdis, Orthodon microlepidotus, and Gila 

 grandis. It may at once be known by the great length of the upper 

 lobe of the tail fin, which projects considerably beyond the lower and 

 has suggested the name of " split-tail," by which it is known in the 

 markets. 



Orthodon microlepidotus, Girard, Fan-tail — This is another of the 

 more abundant Cyprinoids of our markets, brought in company with 

 the three previously mentioned species. It attains a length of thirteen 

 or fourteen inches. In color it is metalic greenish gold above, the top 

 of the head dark olive green, with iridescent suborbitals, sides bright 

 metalic silvery, lower surface silvery white. The surface of the head 

 is crossed by a complex system of rows of pores, the caudal fin is 

 large and fan-shaped, and the scales are remarkable from their small 

 size. 



Siboma crassicauda, Girard, which may fitly be named the thick- 

 tail, is of occasional occurrence, as is also Lavinia exilicauda. 



Catostomus occidentalis, Ayres, Western Sucker — This species is 

 tolerably abundant in our markets at certain seasons, the supply 

 being obtained from the Sacramento or its tributaries. Jordan (Bul- 

 letin United States Natural Museum, vol. 12, p. 172) mentions its 

 occurrence in Green River, Wyoming, and says of its habitat 

 " streams west of the Rocky Mountains, probably generally dis- 

 tributed." It is the only Catostomoid I have yet seen in the markets, 

 and I did not observe its occurrence there until February, since 

 which time the supply has been tolerably regular. The usual size of 

 those brought here is from twelve to sixteen inches long. The scales 

 are of variable size, increasing in size from the head backwards, so 

 that the largest are upon the caudal peduncle and the smallest on 

 the back, just behind the head. The scaleless head has a well- 



