Cope. | 492 [June 7, 
GANOIDEA. 
Lepidosteus osseus, L., occurs in the Yadkin and other eastern rivers of 
the State, and probably L. huronensis in the French Broad, as I have 
specimens of it from near Dandridge, E. Tennessee. Polyodon folium 
(Spatularia) ascends the same river to near Asheville, N. Ca. Various 
_ species of Accipenser abound in the Atlantic rivers, while descriptions of 
a fish called ‘‘Black fish’ or ‘Brindle fish,’’ found in the Neuse River, 
induce me to believe that Ama occurs there (83-7). 
ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
The table appended, shows readily the characteristics of the faune of 
the four rivers of the State examined, though many species are no doubt 
omitted from each, certainly nearly all the larger ones, which I had not 
facilities for procuring. 
The differences between the ichthyologies of the streams on opposite 
sides of the Allegheny shed, are rather greater in this State than in Vir- 
ginia; the mountains here constituting a much more important topo- 
graphical feature, both as to elevation and number of ranges. 
The following points distinguish the two kinds of waters : 
The western presents greater abundance of Percoids allied to Etheos- 
toma, of Uraunidea, and is the exclusive range of Ambloplites, Micropterus 
fasciatus, and Polyodon. 
On the East, the Catawba and Yadkin are peculiar in their poverty in 
Etheostomine Perch, and the absence of the forms just named, while the 
extraordinary development of Catostomide, and abundance of Amiurus, 
Anguilla, and Esox, strike at once the naturalist who travels and collects 
from one to the other. The Neuse adds to these peculiarities a greater 
affinity to the more northern streams of Maryland and New Jersey, in the 
occurrence of Enneacanthus, Aphredodirus, Moxostoma, and Hybopsis 
amarus. Its pike and Centrarchus are of the South Carolina type. 
After a similar investigation of the rivers heading on opposite sides of 
the Alleghenies of 8. W. Virginia, I came to the following conclusions : 
I. That after deducting species generally distributed, certain remain 
which occur in streams separated by high ranges of mountains. 
II. That the distribution of species is not regulated by community or 
difference of outlet, rivers having diverse discharges having sometimes 
more in common than those having the same destination. 
As regards the first, the present investigations are confirmatory 
While nearly all the Percide, Cyprinide, and Catostomide, and all the 
Siluride of the French Broad River, differ from those of the East, we 
have the following common to both sides of the range : 
Peecilichthys flabellatus. 
Micropterus nigricans. 
Photogenis leucops. 
Compostoma anomalum ; 
All species of pretty wide distribution. A peculiarity of distribution is 
