L. Agassiz on Fishes of the Tennessee River. 303 
of the head and across the pectorals. The opercular appendage 
is longer and broader, but also without a light posterior margin. 
The posterior soft rays of the dorsal are marked with a black 
spot as in the preceding species, but all the spinous rays of that 
fin are shorter and stouter. It is a dark colored fish throughout 
the lower as well as the upper side of the body, almost uniformly 
brown, the belly only being somewhat lighter in hue. The face 
and lower jaw are of a leaden color. The fins are all darker than 
in P. incisor, especially the ventrals. 
6. Pomotis bombifrons, Agass.—Body higher than in P. obsen- 
tus and profile even more arched. Forehead prominent especially 
over the eyes. Head quite broad and short. Opercular append- 
age black, and small; a light narrow band runs along its lower 
margin. No black spot upon the hind part of the dorsal. The 
last spinous rays of this fin are shorter than in P. obscurus, thus 
making the passage to the soft rays more abrupt and marked, the 
Soft portion of the fin being almost as prominent as in Ambloplites 
and Calliurus when compared with the spinous rays. Bod light 
brown, fins lighter colored; scales of the belly and sides dotted 
With golden orange. The face and under jaw have not the leaden 
color of P. obscurus. Considering the peculiar form of the ver- 
_ 1. Pomotis pallidus, Agass.—This species resembles P. incisor 
M the outline of the body, the nature and coloration of the scales, 
and in the size and form of the fius, but it differs greatly from it 
by its large mouth, the free extremity of the upper jaws reach- 
Ing the vertical line of the middle of the eye, by the presence 
of teeth upon the palate, and by the ventral fins being placed 
tmmediately under the pectorals. The black opercular appen- 
dage which is very short, has a narrow orange border behind. 
There is a black spot at the base of the posterior rays of the 
dorsal. Both dorsal and anal are marked by one or two dark 
Stipes; the caudal is crossed by several dotted vertical lines. 
here are eight or nine dusky bars across the sides, between the 
ead and tail. This species bears the same relation to Pomotis, 
that Pomoxis bears to the true Centrarchus, in the size of the 
Mouth, and the form of the body, and I have no doubt it will 
“nie day become the type of a distinct genus. 
THEOSTOMOIDS, Agass.—There are comparatively few 
Natural families in the animal kingdom so limited in their geograph- 
cal distribution as to be entirely circumscribed within the boun- 
tes of a single continent, aud these few belong mostly to the 
'Ype of Vertebrata. Though among fishes we should least ex- 
