OF THE UNITED STATES. 3 



Genus.— *MOLLINESIA.f 



Essential Character. 



Head flat ; operculum large ; branchial rays, or 

 gills, four or five. Jaws flattened ; mouth horizontal, 

 very small, furnished with small and slender teeth, 

 anteriorly hooked, and with minute posterior ones 

 resembling velvet. Body short, thick, and compress- 

 ed. Anal between the ventral tins. 



Fish of small size indigenous to North America 

 and inhabiting fresh water. 



M. *latipinna. PI. 3, fig. 1. 



Description. — Dorsal fin very large, longer than 

 broad, prolonged behind, caudal fin arounded ; 

 blackish spots upon the scales ; anal fin situated ex- 

 actly between the ventral, and originating immediate- 

 ly under the dorsal. 



Body compressed, short, thick, and most elevated 

 anteriorly. Head flat, horizontal ; snout short, cunei- 

 form, openiug of the mouth transverse ; jaws protrac- 

 tile, furnished with small teeth, anteriorly hooked, 

 posterior ones minute and resembling velvet. Four 

 or five branchial rays. Scales upon the operculum ; 

 the head, aud the upper part of the body, large. Eyes 

 situated near the summit of the head, distant, the 

 color of a terra sienna yellow, with golden reflections. 



t In honor of Monsieur Mollien, French Minister of Fi- m 

 nance, a man of science, and one of the patrons of the cele- 

 brated Peron. 



