Cope.J ^"-^ [June 7, 



GANOIDEA. 



Lepidosteus osseus, L., occurs in the Yadkin and other eastern rivers of 

 the State, and probably L. Jmroneiisis in the Frencli Broad, as I have 

 specimens of it from near Dandridge, E. Tennessee. Polyodon folium 

 (Spatularia) ascends the same river to near Aslieville, N. Ca. Various 

 species of Accipenser abound in the Atlantic rivers, while descriptions of 

 a fish called " Black fish " or " Brindle fish," found in the Nense River, 

 induce me to believe that Amia occurs there (83-7). 



ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The table appended, shows readily^ the characteristics of the faunae of 

 the four rivers of the State examined, though many species are no doubt 

 omitted from each, certainly nearly all the larger ones, which I had not 

 facilities for procuring. 



The differences between the ichthyologies of the streams on opposite 

 sides of the Allegheny shed, are rather greater in this State than in Vir- 

 ginia; the mountains here constituting a much more important topo- 

 graphical feature, both as to elevation and number of ranges. 



The following points distinguish the two kinds of waters: 



The western presents greater abundance of Percoids allied to Etlieos- 

 toma, of Uranidea, and is the exclusive range of Ambloplites, Microptcrus 

 fasciatus, and Polyodon. 



On the East, the Catawba and Yadkin are peculiar in their poverty in 

 Etheostomine Perch, and the absence of the forms just named, while the 

 extraordinary development of Catostomidse, and abnnda,nce of Amiurus, 

 Anguilla, and Esox, strike at once the naturalist who travels and collects 

 from one to the other. The Neuse adds to these peculiarities a greater 

 affinity to the more northern streams of Maryland and New Jersey, in the 

 occurrence of Enneacantlnm, Aphredodirus, jNEoxostoma, -and Hybopsis 

 amarus. Its pike and Centrarchus are of the South Carolina type. 



After a similar investigation of the rivers heading on opposite sides of 

 the Alleghenies of S. \V. Virginia, I came to the following conclusions: 



I. That after deducting species generally distributed^ certain re- 

 main whicli occur in stieams separated by high ranges of mountains. 



II. That the distribution of species is not regulated by community or 

 difference of outlet, rivers having diverse discharges having sometimes 

 more in common than those having the same destination. 



As regards the first, the present investigations are confirmatory. 

 While nearly all the Percidse, Cyprinidte, and Catostomidse, and all the 

 SiluridsB of the French Broad River, differ from those of the East, we 

 have the following common to both sides of the range: 



Pcecilichthys flabellatus. 



Microptei'us nigricans, 



Photogenis leucops. 



Compostoma anomalum; 

 All species of pretty wide distribution. A peculiarity of distribution is 



