276 Notice of the Report on the Fishes of New York. 
ters of Massachusetts. This I feel compelled to do, not merely 
to prevent the propagation of many errors which are observable 
throughout the pages before me, but also to enter my feeble pro- 
test against the efforts of any individual to stand on ground which 
is already occupied—to redescribe, under new generic and spe- 
cific names, genera and species which have been known and 
acknowledged by scientific men. 
Previous to presenting you these rough notes, I would remark, 
I have endeavored to persuade another, possessing more leisure 
and much more accurate knowledge of many of the fluviatile 
species contained in this volume than myself, to perform this 
duty, but he has refused to attempt it, and I have no alternative 
left me but to perform it myself. I cannot commence, however, 
without observing that I have left untouched the descriptions of 
the western and southern species, trusting the ichthyologists of 
those sections of our country will feel likewise called upon to 
point out any glaring defects which they may find to exist. I 
would only add, if at any future period I should ascertain that 
any of my observations now made are erroneous, I shall, upon 
this floor, correct them. Entertaining for Dr. Dekay no feelings 
save such as should actuate every naturalist, I shall be most happy, 
if I have unintentionally wronged him, to do him full justice— 
to prove to him, what I feel you already know, that my sole ob- 
ject is to establish the truth. 
There is undoubtedly much valuable information in the volume 
before us; prepared as it is by one who ina manner represents 
the zoologists of the state of New York, it cannot be otherwise. 
It is not my purpose to dwell upon its merits ; they will undoubt- 
edly be fully appreciated by all who peruse it; I would merely 
point out to you some of its defects. And as I have been ena- 
bled to devote but fragments of time to its examination, I will 
follow the arrangement of our author. 
On page 16, Dr. Dekay has thought proper to form a new ge- 
nus, to contain a species which he calls Pileoma semifasciatum ; 
but the description and figure of this fish place it in the genus 
Etheostoma of Rafinesque. 
Boleosoma tessellatum, (p. 20.)—This species was described by 
me before this Society in April, 1841, and the description, accom- 
panied by a figure, was published in the number of your Journal 
for January, 1842, under the name of Etheostoma Olmstedi, from 
