52 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NOETH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY II. 



36. APHODODBRUS COOKIAl^US, Jordan. 



Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1877, p. 60. 



Many specimens of this species are in tlie United States National 

 Museum from various points in Illinois. The chief distinctive charac- 

 ter of this species, the small size of the scales, seems to be constant. 



Specimens of an Aphododerus, from near New Orleans, the original 

 locality of Aphrededkrus gibbosus Le Sueur, seem to be identical with 

 A. sayanus. 



The etymology of ^^Ajphredoderus^^ is apparently ay'o^o?, excrement j 

 depv], neck. The word should therefore be spelled ApJiododerus. 



• 37. ASTERNOTUEMIA MESOTEEMA, sp. nov. 



General form, appearance, and coloration of Asternotremia isolepis 

 Nelson, but the vent not as in the latter species between the anterior 

 bases of the ventral fins, but about an eye's diameter in front of them- 

 Head nearly 3 times in length ; depth 3J ; lateral line, 45 scales. Dor- 

 sal III, 8. Anal III, 7. 



Type 9296, United States National Museum, from Georgia. Col- 

 lector, Hugh M. Neisler ; precise locality not indicated. Specimen 2| 

 inches long, in very bad condition. 



The peculiar position of the vent indicates a direct transition from 

 the more generalized type of Asternotremia toward Aphododerus. In 

 this species, it is about two-fifths of the distance between its normal 

 position in the former genus and that of the latter, farther forward 

 than in Asternotremia isolepis. 



Since this paper was in press, I have received two more specimens 

 which I refer to this species. They are in much better condition than 

 the original types, and from them I am enabled to supplement and cor- 

 rect the original description. 



Head 3 in length ; depth 3 J ; eye 4 in head ; distance to dorsal 2^ in 

 body ; base of dorsal 4. 



Fin-rays :— D, III, 10 ; A. Ill, 6 ; V. 7. Scales in 60 to 70 rows, very 

 small, and difficult to count. 



Vent in front of the ventrals, about one-third the distance to the lit- 

 tle knob at the throat. 



Color precisely like that of the other members of the family. 



Length of specimens 2| and 2^ inches respectively. They were taken 

 in Little Red River, Arkansas, by Prof. H. S. Reynolds. 



