Cand e, are profile and side views 
L. Agassiz on the Ichthyological Fauna of Western America. 221 
particularly characterizes this genus externally is the short, coni- 
cal head, the height and length of which are nearly equal. The 
snout is broadly rounded both vertically and laterally. The 
mouth, which is terminal and not beneath the snout, opens 
slightly upwards. The lower jaw is short, arched in front and 
nt upwards, giving ita somewhat spoon-shaped form. At pres- 
ent, we know of ouly one species belonging to this genus, which — 
Rafinesque described under the name of Pimephales promelas. 
He never saw more than one single specimen of this remarkable 
fish, which he obtained from Mr. W. M. Clifford, of Lexington, 
Kentucky, in 1820. It is not mentioued in the great Histoire 
Naturelle des Poissons, by Cuvier and Valenciennes. Dr. Kirt- 
land, to whose indefatigable ardor we are indebted for so much 
valuable information upon the fishes of the Ohio, seems to be the 
only Ichthyologist who has noticed this fish from personal ob- 
servation, since it was first described by Rafinesque. Dr. Kirt- 
land describes it from three specimens caught in Trambull 
County, Ohio. I have myself had the good fortune to obtain a 
large number of specimens in the smaller brooks west of St. Louis 
1n Missouri. The species fully deserves the specific name given 
to it by Rafinesque on account of the contrast between the al- 
Most black color of the head and the light tint of the body. The 
largest specimens I have seen did not exceed three inches and a 
half in length. 
to consider their number of generic importance. ‘T’o some ex- 
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pharyngeals is particularly promi- 
hent in this genus. Fig. 12, a, rep- 
Tesents the right pharyngeal of P#- 
™eéphales promelas enlarged from 
the outer surface to show this pro- 
Jection, } represents the same bone 
from the dental side, in natural size: 
of 
the teeth without hook, 
