L. Agassiz on Fishes of the Tennessee River. 355 
of his works, I am satisfied that he was a better man than he ap- 
peared. His misfortune was his prurient desire for novelties, and 
his rashness in publishing them, and yet both in Europe and in 
America he has anticipated most of his cotemporaries in the dis- 
covery of new genera and species in those departments of science 
which he has cultivated most perseveringly, and it is but justice 
to restore them to him, whenever it can be done. Personal con- 
siderations should no longer be allowed to interfere with this late 
act of redress. May the example of Rafinesque not be lost for 
those naturalists in this country who describe new species with- 
out taking the least care to preserve the original specimens of 
their descriptions, or to circulate authentic ones among other nat- 
uralists, 
of Cyprinus described by Heckel; indeed they truly represent 
upon the Continent of North America the genus Cyprinus of the 
old world to which they bear the greatest resemblance in out- 
ward appearance, though they differ strikingly in their generic 
characters. I have applied to the new species here mentioned 
Names reminding us of the common name of Buffalo applied to 
all of them throughout the country. The large number of spe- 
Cimens including all sizes, which [ have been able to collect of 
Some species of this genus, has enabled me to ascertain the range 
of variation in their characters. 
1. Carpiodes Urus, Agass.—From the Tennessee River. It 
grows very large, weighing occasionally from 30 to 40 pounds. 
The body in this species is not so high as in C. Cyprinus, nor is 
it so compressed above ; the scales are also not so high, but more 
angular behind, and the anterior portion of the dorsal is not so 
elongated. The gill cover is larger, and the distance from the 
ind border of the eye to the inferior angle of the subopercle, 
Near the base of the pectorals, and the distance from the same 
point to the superior and posterior angle of the opercle, are nearly 
equal. In C. Cyprinus the distances differ by nearly one-third. 
The subopercle is not triangular, but its hind border is néarly 
tegularly arched from the upper angle to the posterior angle of 
the interopercle. ‘The anal has its posterior margin full, and not 
lunate; the caudal is not so deeply fureate as in C. Cyprinus. 
The ventrals do not reach the anal. All fins are of a dark color. 
Tam indebted to Dr. Newman for this species. 
_ 2. Carpiodes Taurus, Agass.—From Mobile River, Alabama. 
‘The form of the body is intermediate hetweeu that of C. Cypri- 
. 
=e 
an y! 
tus and C.-Urus. The gill cover has the same form as in — 
