INVESTIGATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, AND TEXAS. 307 



15. Ictiobus cyprinella (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Common Buffalo-fish', "Gourd- 



head Buffalo." This species is common in all the larger waters of the region 

 visited, and is a food-fish of considerable importance, especially at Morgan 

 City, Melville, Beaumont, and Logausport. It is described by the fishermen 

 as having the mouth larger than any other species and " straight out," and 

 feeding more at the top of the water. 



16. Ictiobus urus (Agassiz). "Black Buffalo"; "Chopper." Occurs in the Atcha- 



falaya, Neches, and Sabine rivers. Reaches a weight of 35 pounds or more. 

 Head and mouth larger than in /. bubalus. Said to spawn in March and 

 April. 



17. Ictiobus bubalus (Ralinesque). Small-mouthed Buffalo; "White Buffalo"; 



"Rooter." Common in the Atchafalaya River and all bayous, rivers, and 

 lakes of this region; seen by us at Morgan City, Beaumont, Melville, and 

 Logansport. Reaches a weight of 35 pounds or more. Spawns in March 

 and April. Described by the fishermen as having a smaller, more inferior 

 mouth than any other species, and as being more of a bottom feeder. All 

 three of these species are used as food. A specimen lti inches in total length 

 from the Sabine River at Logansport, La., taken April 29, exhibits the follow- 

 ing characters: Head 4; depth 2.5; snout 3.34 in hoad; eye 5. D. 28; A. 11. 

 Scales 9-35-5, 12 or 13 before the dorsal. Body short, compressed, the dorsal 

 profile strongly arched and subcarinate from occiput to origin of dorsal fin; 

 ventral outline only slightly convex. Head small ; mouth small, subinferior, 

 protactile downward ; lips papillose; opercles striate; caudal peduncle deep 

 and compressed, its least depth 1 .75 in head. Fins moderate, first 7 or 8 dorsal 

 rays lengthened, as long as head, rays of the short portions 3.5 in head; 

 longest anal rays 1.17 in head; pectoral short, not reaching base of ventral, 

 1.4 in head; ventrals longer, 1.1 in head; caudal deeply lunate, the lobes 

 longer than head. 



18. Hybognathus nuchale Agassiz. Silvery Minnow. Two specimens in the col- 



lection from the Angelina River. Others were examined on the Atchafalaya 

 River 70 miles above Morgan City. 



19. Hybognathus hayi Jordan. Two specimens from Melville. 



20. Opsopceodus emiliae Hay. Sixteen from Angelina River at Michelli and 6 from 



Beaumont. Lateral line complete in all. In many there are two black areas 

 on dorsal fin ; the anterior four rays and their membranes are black, then 

 comes a white streak covering one or two rays, then another black streak on 

 the last three rays. In a few of the smaller specimens there is no black on 

 the dorsal; where there is any black, it is in two spots or bands. 



21. Abramis crysoleucas bosci (Cuvier & Valenciennes), lioach. Three examples 



from Michelli. Not seen elsewhere, though it doubtless occurs in most of the 

 waters examined. 



22. Cliola vigilax (Baird & Girard). Three specimens from Michelli, the largest of 



which (3 inches long) has the head 4.13; depth 4; eye 3.75 in head; snout 3; 

 scales 8-45-5, 26 before the dorsal ; D. i, 8 ; A. 7. 



23. Notropis mix Evermann. Eight examples from Beaumont, Tex. Head 4; 



depth 3.75; eye 3; snout 4; D. 8; A. 7; scales 7-35-3, 13 before dorsal. Teeth 

 1, 4-4, 1, hooked, and with slight grinding surface. Mouth rather small, 

 lower jaw somewhat included; origin of dorsal over insertion of ventrals. 

 A small spot at base of caudal. Scales rather deeper than long. These 

 specimens agree in the main with cotypes of N. nux, but the depth is greater. 

 This last is due to the fact that all these specimens are well fed and many of 

 them full of spawn. 



24. Notropis chamberlaini Evermann. 



Type, No. 48901, U. S. Nat. Mus. ; cotypes, No. 707, U. S. F. C. Length of 

 type, 3 inches to base of caudal. Type locality, Atchafalaya River, Melville, 

 La. Collector, Fred. M. Chamberlain, May 5, 1897. 



