130 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS 



Stone-toter. (Toter is a Virginia name for carrier.) 

 There is a kind of Chub in Virginia which bears the 

 same name and has the habit of pushing pebbles with 

 its head in order to form an inclosure where the 

 female lays its eggs ; the name of Toter was given 

 to the Ohio fish owing to the same peculiarity. It 

 is a rare fish and used as bait. The mouth projects 

 in a short and obtuse snout. Iris large and gilt. 

 Opercule simple. Pectoral fins lanceolate acute, as 

 long as the head and with 12 rays. Abdominal fins 

 lanceolate acute, situated nearly half way between 

 the head and the vent, but not reaching it. Dorsal 

 fin trapezoidal. Anal fin elongate : Caudal fin with 

 20 rays. 



[III. 165] XXVI Genus. Ribbonfish. Sarchirus. 



Sarchire. 



Body scaleless slender cylindrical, slightly com- 

 pressed. Vent posterior. Head nearly square. 

 Jaws elongated narrow flat, with four rows of small 

 unequal teeth, the lower one shorter and moveable, 

 the upper one longer immobile, with an obtuse knob 

 at the end. Pectoral fins round without rays, but 

 with a thin circular membrane surrounding an adipose 

 base. Abdominal fins anterior with six rays. Dorsal 

 fin posterior nearer to the tail than the anal. Caudal 

 fin lanceolate, decurrent beneath. 



A very distinct genus of the family Esoxida, differ- 

 ing from all the genera of it by its fleshy pectoral flns : 

 It differs besides from Lepisosteus by the naked body, 

 and from Esox by the tail &c. The name means 

 fleshy arms. 



83 Species. Ohio Ribbonfish. Sarchirus vittatus. 

 Sarchire rubanne. 



