No. 434-] 



NOTES AND LITER A IT RE 



I2 9 



cuaro ; Zoogoneticm miniatus. from Lake Chalco ; Skiffia lerma, from 

 Lake Patzcuaro and Rio Lerma ; Skiffia variegata, from Lake Zira- 

 huen ; Heterandria lutzi, from Oaxaca ; Xiphophorus jalapct, from 

 Jalapa; Chirostoma attenuation, from Lake Patzcuaro; Chirostoma 

 labarcce, from Rio Lerma ; Chirostoma patzcuaro, from Lake Patz- 

 cuaro ; Chirostoma zirahuen, from Lake Zirahuen; Mela nir is ba bo- 

 nus, from Rio Balsas ; Lepomis occidentalis , from Chihuahua ; Cichla- 

 soma eigenmanni, from Pueblo ; Gobius parvus, from Vera Cruz ; 



ently referable to Ctenogobius. Chirostoma lucius is identified with 

 C. crystallinum, not with C. lerma. 



The most remarkable feature of this fauna is the extraordinary 

 number of closely related species of Atherinidae, alike in size, color, 

 and appearance, and living in the same waters. 



Jordan and Snyder found, in 1895, six such species, each about a 

 foot long, in Lake Chapala. To this list Dr. Meek makes further 

 additions. All these fishes are excellent as food and all locally 

 known alike as Pescado Blanco de Chapala. Dr. Meek unites the 

 small genera Eslopsarum (with large scales) and Lethostole (trans- 

 lucent, with crenate scales) to Chirostoma. The genus as thus con- 

 stituted is known only from the table-lands of Mexico. 



The species are distributed as follows ; 



Lake Chalco (City of Mexico) : Chirostoma jordani, C humbold- 

 Aguas Calientes, E. arge. 



Lake Chapala, with L. Zirahuen and Rio Lerma : C bartoni, 

 C. labarcce, C. zirahuen, C chapahe, C grandocule, C promelas, C. 

 lucius, C. sphynena, C. lertme, C. ocotlane, and C. cstor (= C. album). 



Lake Patzcuaro : C. attenuatum, C patzcuaro, C. humboldtianum. 

 C grandocule, and C cstor. 



Dr. Meek has several interesting suggestions concerning geo- 

 graphical distribution. These isolated rivers and lakes have fish 

 faunas to be compared with those of rivers on different islands, sep- 

 arated by the sea. But the barriers of ocean are often more easily 

 passed than those of the Sierra Madre. The new species are all 

 well figured. ( D. S. J. 



Fishes of Formosa. — In the proceedings of the United States 

 National Museum, Vol. XXV, pp. 315-368, Jordan and Evermann 

 give an account of the Formosan fishes contained in museums of 

 Japan. Two collections were studied. — the one made by Mr. T. 



