CAVE FISHES OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Measnronejits. 



387 



Chologaster conintus A,a:assiz, Anier. Jour. Sci. and Arts, XVI, 1853, 135, Ditches of 

 rice fields in South Carolina. Giinther, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., VII, 2, 1S68. 

 Putnam, Amer. Nat., VI, 1872, 30. Jordan & Gilbert, Synop.sis Fishes of N. A., 

 325, 1883. Gilbert, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., VIII, 1888, 22 (Okefinokee Swamp, 

 Millen, Georgia). Jordan & Evermann, Fishes North and Mid. Amer., I, 703, 

 1896. Eigenmann, Degeneration of the Eyes of the Amblyopsidae, its Plans, 

 Processes, and Causes, Proc. Ind. Ac. Sci. 1898, 239 (summary); Eyes of the 

 Blind Vertebrates of N. Amer., Arch. f. EntvvickeUmgsmech. , VIII, 1899, 543; 

 Marine Biological Lectures, 1899 (1900), 113. 



Chologaster avitus Jordan & Jenkins, in Jordan Proc. U. S. Nat. ]\Ius., VIII, 1SS8, 

 356, pi. 44, fig. 8, Outlet of Lake Drummond, Dismal Swamp, near Suffolk, Va, 



Cholog'aster papilliferus Forbes. PI. IV, fig. 2. 



The body is similar in shape to that of C. cornutus. Depth about 

 6 in length; head 3.5 to 3.75, not quite so depressed as C. cornutus; 

 mouth very oblique, lower jaw projecting as much or more than width 

 of eye; maxillaiy scarcely reaching eye; eye 2 in snout, located rather 

 on upper side of head; head and body with papillary ridges which 

 serve as tactile organs, these highly developed in some specimens and 

 almost entirely absent in others; gill-membranes more or less united, 

 loosely joined to the isthmus, rea<;hing back to the vent; j)ectoral reach- 

 ing half way to dorsal; caudal pointed; dorsal inserted well back, its 

 first ray a little in front of first ray of anal, rays 8 to 9; anal with 8 

 rays; scales very small, and arranged as in C coniutus but somewhat 

 more numerous. Color similar to that of C. cor7iutus, but the dark 

 longitudinal lines not so well defined; a light lateral line just below 

 the median dark line; no well-defined black blotches on base of caudal; 

 belly white; dorsal fin dark, similar to caudal; anal light; upper part 

 of head dark. Length 2 in. 



This species differs from the others of the genus in the strong devel- 

 opment of papilhuy ridges and in color. It is generally lighter than 

 C cornutus and darker than €1 ayassizii. Known only from Clinton 

 County, Illinois, in cave springs. 



