196 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



The specimen purports ihat it came from the interior of the State. It approaches in its 

 general form the gibbosus of Lesueur, but is sufficiently distinguished by the number of the 

 dorsal rays. 



GENUS CATOSTOMUS. Lesueur, Cuvier. 



Both lips thick, fleshy, and crenated or plaited ; the lower lip pendant. Dorsal placed above 

 the ventrals, and usually short. 



Obs. This genus, as far as hitherto known, contains exclusively North American species. 



THE COMMON SUCKER. 



Catostomhs communis. 



PLATE XXXni. FIG. 106. 

 Catosto-inus communis. Lesueur, Joijrn. Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 1, p. 96, plate. 



Characteristics. Body long, rounded and tapering. Caudal fin lunate, almost furcate. Length 

 12-14 inches. 



Description. Body cylindrical, sub-compressed, broad and rounded above to the origin of 

 the dorsal fin, and compressed towards the tail. Head smooth, scaleless. Scales reticulate, 

 small on the back and anterior part of the body, larger near the dorsal fin, and increasing in 

 size to the tail. Lateral line not concurrent with the back, slightly concave, nearly straight. 

 Three to five smooth tubercular elevations towards the extremity of the snout, scarcely ob- 

 vious in the fresh, but manifest in the dried specimen. A row of mucous ducts (sutures of 

 Forster) extend from near the upper angle of the opercle, across the nape, to the same spot 

 on the opposite side, and separating the smooth head, on what is sometimes called the basal 

 line of the head, from the scaly body. From this transverse line proceed two others forward, 

 about half an inch apart, in a sinuous course over the eves and nostrils, and are lost in the 

 vicinity of the tubercles before mentioned. From near the extremity of the snout, proceed 

 two other series of mucous ducts (one on each side) upwards beneath the orbits, thence be- 

 hind the orbits, rising up in an irregular curve, and turning down at tlie upper angle of the 

 branchial aperture, where it is lost in the lateral line. These various lines are not exhibited 

 on the plate, but are manifest in the recent specimens. Eyes moderate. Nostrils oval, appa- 

 rently single, contiguous ; the posterior closed by a valve. Mouth protractile, with thick 

 puckered lips ; the lower lip bilobate, as represented in the plate. 



The dorsal fin subquadrate, highest in front, with its margin slightly concave, arising nearly 

 equidistant from the snout to the base of the caudal fin. Pectorals inserted nearly on a hori- 

 zontal plane, and very low down, long, pointed ; as long as the head. Ventrals broad, trun- 

 cated, shorter than the pectorals, and placed under the middle of the dorsal. Anal fin long, 

 pointed, higher than broad, its extremity reaching to the base of the caudal fin ; the first ray 



