370 



SYNOPSIS OF THE CYPRINIDiE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Stauffer has also found numerous Arguli attached to the branchiae of an Amiurus albidus, 

 which was in an exhausted condition. 



HYPSILEPIS, Baird. 

 Plargyrm, Rafinesque, Girard, Proc. A. N. S., Phil., 1856, 195. 



Mouth small, terminal ; pharyngeal teeth acuminate, with moderate masticatory surface, 

 2.4 — 4 2. Anal fin short; scales moderate, extensively imbricate, leaving a small sur- 

 face exposed. 



This genus resembles both Leuciscus and Clinostomus, partaking of features of both, 

 besides having those peculiar. It is distributed throughout the eastern district of the 

 United States, and extensively in the central district, that is, to the Rocky Mountains. 

 H. plargyrus, not included in this synopsis, may yet be found in the Alleghany River. 



One of our species has been referred to the genus Gyprinella* Girard, but it presents all 

 the characters of Hypsilepis. The former genus is said only to differ from the latter in 

 the crenulation of the edges of the teeth, and this indeed is visible in many specimens of 

 the Hypsilepis kentukiensis, but not always, and frequently on one tooth only. 



Dr. Girard, however, describes his genus as being furnished with dental serrations of an 

 acute edge, without masticatory surface, and with a dorsal fin situated posterior to the 

 line of the ventrals. The latter holds good to such a trifling degree in the II. kentuk- 

 iensis as to be of little significance, and either this species is not properly Gyprinella, 

 or the latter genus has no existence. 



Our three species may be distinguished as follows : 



Head 4 — 4 J times in length to origin caudal ; scales 5-6, 35-40 — 3; teeth more or less crcnatc, outer row 1 — 1 ; 

 muzzle more acuminate] black spot on dorsal fin behind. kentukiensis. 



Head 4| times in length, muzzle more obtuse ; scales 8 — 41 — 3 ; teeth never crcnated, outer row 2 — 2 ; no black 

 spot on dorsal fin. OORNUTTJS. 



Muzzle plane above, mouth descending; orbit 3.5 in head; tubercles minute; scales 9 — 44 — 3; anal 10 j ; 

 dark above, reddish below, base of dorsal black. DIELJBKTA. 



* Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1856, 196. Montana, Ibidem, 199. This genus, if such it be, is chiefly dif- 

 fused south and west of the Mississippi. 



