4.79 



Cope.] ^'^ [June 7, 



striatioB. (A similar variety of Uypsilepis analostanus (q.v.) was taken in 

 the same stream,) Scales 6—44—5. Y. IX. A. YII. Head flat above ; 

 eye 4 times in head, 1.5 times in interorbital breadth. Dorsal and caudal 

 fins black edged. 



66. Ptychostomus coeegonus, Cope. 



Species nova„ 



This fish is very easily distinguished by its very small head, with conic 

 muzzle, and elevated arched back, combined with a small size, and other 

 characters. 



The head enters the length not less than five times, and is much arched 

 in transverse section posteriorly above. The diameter of the eye is large, 

 entering the head between three and four times ; the muzzle is regularly 

 conic, and projects far beyond the mouth. The latter is remarkable for 

 its small size, and lack of projectility ; in ordinary individuals it would 

 about admit a pea. The .upper lip is not pendent below the front of the 

 muzzle. The shape is broadly fusiform, the dorsal line rising to the fin. 

 It is, nevertheless, more compressed than the species already described. D. 

 XIV constantly. 



The ground color is silvery, the scales shaded with leaden above, and 

 with black pigment at their bases, giving a dusky hue to the whole, as is 

 not seen in the species already described, except tlie P. pappillosus. Belly 

 and inferior fins pure white, lacking the red and orange of many others. 



This fish never exceeds a foot in length, and is very abundant in the 

 Catawba and Yadkin Rivers. It is caught with the preceding two species 

 and is used for food, but is the least valued of all the species. It is called 

 at Morganton, "blue mullet." 



67. PTYcnosTOMtJS ALBUS, Cope. 



Spec. nov. 



This large species has the small head of the last, without the small 

 mouth and many of its other peculiarities. The head enters the length not 

 less than five times ; muzzle is prominent, but the mouth is less inferior 

 than in Pt. coregonus. The eye, in a specimen sixteen inches long, is 

 relatively larger than in P. coUapsus, and about as in Pt. coregonus. The 

 muzzle is less prominent than in the last named fish, but more so than in 

 Pt. coUapsus. The mou,th is of ordinary size, but the upper lip does not 

 form a free projecting rim as in the latter. The under hp is a narrow 

 crescent following the boundary of the mandible, not folding so as to meet 

 on the middle line as in the species already described. 



Dorsal outline a little elevated, rays XIY. 



Colors very light ; the inferior fins white. In size this species is one of the 

 largest, reaching four pounds and over. It is much vahied by the people 

 living in the neighborhood of the Catawba River, North Carolina, as an 

 article of food. They call it the "White Mv\llet." I have not seen it in 

 the Yadkin or any other river. 



68. Ptychostomus thalassintjs, Cope. 

 Species nova. 

 This fish approaches tlie Pt. coUapsus^ Cope, in many respects. The head 



