IN THE ALLEGHENY KEGION OF SOUTH-WESTERN VIRGINIA. 213 



Three specimens from the Holston River, Va. ; it does not appear to be common, 

 and keeps in the main stream. A fourth specimen in Museum Academy, from the 

 Miami River in Indiana, is not to be distinguished from it, except in the lack of the 

 bands which pass round the belly. 



POECILICHTHYS FLABELLATUS m. e. Raf 



Etheodoma Eafinesque, Catonotiis Putnam. 



Many of the adults of this species are characterized by the obclavate or 

 obspatulate form of the dorsal spines as indicated by Agassiz, but others equally 

 mature do not possess the peculiarity. As this defined the genus Catonotu.s Agass., 

 I do not regard the latter as different from Poeciliclitlbyfi, to the species of which the 

 C. f 1 a b e 1 1 a t u s is otherwise nearly allied. 



This species is abundant in all the streams examined from the James to the 

 Holston. There are three varieties of coloration, as follows : 



I. Cross-bars moie or less indistinct, but the centre of each scale with a dark line, 

 forming together numerous longitudinal strias; several large sp. from Walker's Creek. 



II. Dark vertical cross-bars ; the usual form. 



III. A series of quadrate dorsal, and lateral spots connected by numerous brown 

 shades and spots. Body shorter and more elevated. This marked variety seems to 

 pass into the common one in all respects. Most abundant in Sinking Creek ; also 

 from Austinville. Specimens all small. 



No specimen of the P. coe r u 1 e u s , so abundant in the western States, was seen. 



BOLEOSOMA De Kay emend. 



This genus differs froni Poecilichtlujs Ag. only in the possession of one anal spine 

 in place of two. 



I. Branchiostegal membranes connected across pectoral region ; dorsal 

 fins distinct. 



aa. Dorsal radii 9 ; cheeks and operculum scaly. 

 Rays of dorsal fins elongate, 14 radii in second; caudal fin truncate; 

 muzzle more or less abruptly descending; head 4* to 4-5t times in 

 length; scales 5 | 9 ; a series of dorsal and one of lateral spots, connected 

 by specks ; superior fins and pectorals speckled, ..... olmstedi. 



BoLEOSOMA OLMSTEDI Storer, Agass. 

 JBoIeosoma tessellatum De Kay. 



Of this species, so abundant in Pennsjdvania, but two specimens were taken, and 



* In spec, from Crosswicks, X. J. f In spec, from the Potomac. 



