for dan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 703 



321. CHOLOGASTER, Agassiz. 



Chologaster, AGASSIZ, Araer. Journ. Sci. Arts, xvi, 1853, 135, (cornutus). 



This genus includes those Amblyopsidw which retain the eyes in their 

 primitive condition of development, and which retain the structure and 

 color of ordinary fishes. Pyloric ccEca 2. Swamps of the Southern States, 

 entering caves. From allies of Chologaster cornutus all the other forms 

 have probably descended, though the possession of ventrals in Amllyopsis 

 indicates their existence in the primitive type. (#w/l6f , maimed ; yavrrjp, 

 belly ; in allusion to the abortive ventrals.) 



a. Papillary ridges wanting. 



b. Sides with 3 narrow, sharply defined, lengthwise black stripes, the middle one broad- 

 est; a black blotch at base of caudal, with a white blotch behind it, thp fin otherwise 

 black. CORNUTUS, 1044. 



bb. Sides plain light brown, unstriped. AGASSIZII, 1045. 



. Papillary ridges present, as in the Blindfishes; sides with 3 black lengthwise stripes. 



PAPILLIFERUS, 1046. 



1044. CHOLOGASTER CORNTJTUS, Agassiz. 



(FISH OF THK DISMAL SWAMP.) 



Head 3f ; depth 5 to 6|. D. 8 or 9; A. 8 or 9 ; scales 68. Form 

 of Amblyopsis, but more slender, the head narrower, sharper, and less 

 depressed; mouth oblique, terminal, the lower jaw projecting; maxil- 

 lary extending nearly to front of eye; eye small, but evident, about half 

 length of snout. Gill membranes separate, nearly free from the isthmus, 

 covering the vent. Pectoral fin 1 in head, If in distance to front of 

 dorsal ; caudal pointed, about as long as head. Color very dark brown 

 above, the lower half of body abruptly white, all parts, black or white, 

 sprinkled over with black points ; side with 3 narrow, sharply defined, 

 black, lengthwise stripes, the lower sometimes breaking up into dots 

 behind, the middle stripe broadest, forming the lower margin of the dark 

 color of back, this stripe extending on side of head across eye and snout; 

 upper band a little nearer to line of back than to middle band ; a large, 

 irregular black blotch at base of caudal ; behind this a white blotch of 

 varying size, sometimes reduced to 2 small spots, sometimes forming a 

 broad white bar, covering nearly half the fin ; behind this blotch the 

 caudal fin is jet black ; dorsal white, more or less spotted or edged with 

 black. Length 1^ inches. Lowland swamps of the Southern States, from 

 the Dismal Swamp to the Okefinokee Swamp ; locally very abundant. 

 The above description is taken from the types of Ckologaster avitus. The 

 study of specimens from Georgia leads to the conclusion that the nominal 

 species avitus is based on a slight variation of cornutus ; the body slen- 

 derer, the color a little different, (cornutus, horned ; the inconspicuous 

 " horns" are the flaps of the nostrils.) 

 Chologaster cormtliis, AGASSIZ, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1853, 135, ditch in a rice field at Wac- 



camaw, South Carolina; GVNTHER, Cat., vn, 2, 1868; PUTNAM,* Amer. Nat., 1872, 30; 



JORDAN & GILBERT, Synopsis, 325, 1883. 



*The following is the substance of Professor Putnam's description of Agassiz's type: Head 

 3%; depth 4^. D. 8 or 9; A. 8 or 9. Yellowish brown, dark above; sides with 3 'dark longi- 

 tudinal stripes, becoming dots on the tail; middle rays of caudal fin dark, fins otherwise uncol- 

 ored. Mouth moderate, oblique, the maxillary not extending to the eye. Pectorals reaching 

 nearly to front of dorsal, perfect, small. Snout with 2 horn-like projections (nasal flaps). 

 Length 2% inches. 



