EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. xhiii 
It is noteworthy that although this section is traversed by some of the 
largest perennial rivers of the globe, the very numerous species of two fam- 
ilies common to it with Europe average much less in size than those of the 
old continent. A single Cyprinid—the Fall-fish or Silver Chub (Semotilus 
corporalis)—very rarely reaches a length of eighteen inches, but all others 
(except perhaps the Flat-headed Chub and the Golden Shiner) fail to 
acquire a foot of length, and most are of insignificant size. So far as size 
is concerned, the related family of Catostomids or Suckers better represents 
the large Cyprinids of Europe. The species of Percoid genera shared with 
Europe—ferca and Sandra, including the banded Perches and the Pike- 
perches—are as large as their European congeners, but the fair-sized 
Percids of Europe of other genera are offset in America by members of 
a specialized group—Etheostomines—numerous in genera, species, and 
individuals, but much reduced in size. 
The relative values for the markets of the different native species 
vary for different regions. In the Mississippi Valley the Buffalo fishes 
are the leading ones, then come the Catfishes, next, the Paddle-fish, fourth, 
the Drum,\fifth, Suckers, and sixth, Crappies, and the Black Basses hold 
the seventh place. The introduced Carp, however, is next in importance 
to the Catfishes. 
FAMILY OF POLYODONTIDS OR PADDLE-FISHES. 
Polyodon spathula: Paddle-fish; Spoon-bill Cat (p. 532). 
FAMILY OF ACIPENSERIDS OR STURGEONS. 
Acipenser oxyrhyncbus: Common American Sturgeon (p. 526). 
Acipenser brevirostrum: Short-nosed Sturgeon (p. 529). 
Acipenser rubicundus: Lake Sturgeon (p. 529). 
Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus: Shovel-nosed Sturgeon (p. 530). 
FAMILY OF CATOSTOMIDS OR SUCKERS. 
Ictiobus cyprinella: Common Buffalo Fish. (Ichthyobus bubalus, p. 438.) 
Ictiobus urus: Black or Mongrel Buffalo. (Bubalichthys urus, p. 439.) 
Ictiobus bubalus: White or Small-mouth Buffalo. (Bubalichthys altus, p. 
439-) 
Carpiodes carpio: Big Carp-sucker. 
Carpiodes difformis: Large-headed Carp-sucker. 
Carpiodes thompsoni: Lake Carp-sucker. 
Carpiodes velifer: Spearfish, Sail-fish, or Quillback Carp-sucker (p. 437). 
Carpiodes cyprinus: Eastern Carp Sucker or Carp (p. 437). 
Cycleptus elongatus : Black Horse (p. 436). 
