L. Agassiz on Fishes of the Tennessee River. 301 
6. Pomorts, Rafin.—Every ichthyologist must be familiar with 
the freshwater sunfishes, so common throughout the United 
States; but it is perhaps not so generally known that the author- 
ity to which the genus Pomotis onght to be ascribed is question- 
able. , Indeed, I find it universally ascribed to Cuvier: but that 
name occurs already in Rafinesque’s Ichthyologia Ohiensis, pnb- 
lished in 1820, as a subgenus of his genus Jchthelis, which he 
there divides into Telipomis and Pomotis. It seems therefore 
probable to me that Cuvier not considering these subdivisions 
necessary, and finding the name Pomotis better adapted to ex- 
press the prominent character of all the species of this group, 
adopted the name of Pomotis in preference to Jchthelis, aud in 
conformity with an objectionable practice, followed by some nat- 
uralists, to which Cuvier however did not adhere in other in- 
stances of applying a new authority whenever the range of a 
genus is modified, allowed in this case his name to supersede that 
of Rafinesque, which I would however restore, in conformity 
With the more just practice now prevailing. If it were further 
asked, what should be done with the name of Ichthelis which 
Was proposed by Rafinesque as early as 1818. Whether it should 
€made a synonym of his own subgenus Pomotis? or disregarded 
altogether, because Pomotis has come into general use? I would 
Suggest that neither would be the proper course to follow. It is 
My opinion that in a complete monograph of this gronp, the 
hame Ichthelis should be finally restored to its right and T'elipo- 
ms and Pomolis used for such sections or genera as it may be- 
come necessary to. separate from it, now that the number and 
diversity of species of this group has increased beyond expecta- 
tio his is at least the course I shall adopt when publishing 
the descriptions of the many view species of this type | have col- 
lected in the Southern States. For the present, I limit myself 
to describing the seven species sent to me by Dr. Newman, six 
of which are new to science. 
1. Pomotis sanguinolentus, Agass.—Called Sun Perch at Hunts- 
ville. "The general outline of the body is that of Pomotis nitida, 
Kiril. but the back is more compressed, the dorsal and anal fins 
fe more pointed behind, and the spinous rays are longer, the base 
of the anal is shorter. The sides of the head are marked with 
Mregular uudulating longitudinal lines of a metallic steel blue 
» extending from the cheeks across the gill cover to the base 
of the pectorals and even continuing alone the sides of the body 
i dotted lines. There are generally four of these lines below 
the eyes, the first being close to its margin, and extending back- — 
Salong and around the border of the opercular appendage 
and feturuing, meets the centre of the hinder margin of the eye, 
bat teappears immediately in front of the eye and continues to 
the edge of the upper jaw. ‘Though the opercular appendage is _ 
