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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The other specimen, which we have taken as the cotype, contained but one egg in its mouth 
when it came into our possession, and Mr. Nelson does not recall that any were lost from this fish. 
He saw 8 or 10 other examples of this cat-fish, but did not observe eggs in the mouth of any but the 
type specimen. According to his recollection, the eggs were quite uniform in size. The four which 
came into our possession measure, respectively, , -J-f by f§, If by fj, ff by ff, and by of an inch. 
The eggs are well developed, the embryo in each showing very distinctly. It lies wrapped 
around one side of the yolk sac, the head in every case being free. The maxillary barbel is well 
developed and very long, its length nearly equaling that of the head. 
We have not been able to examine critically the single egg in the mouth of our second specimen, 
as it can not be removed without mutilating it or the fish owing, to the small size of the oral opening. 
Evidently this particular fish has not yet acquired what the Rev. Mr. Boake calls “the singular habit, 
when held up by the tail, of emitting from its mouth a quantity of eggs.” 
It will be noticed that the number of eggs (39) found by Mr. Nelson in the mouth of our type 
specimen is much greater than hitherto reported by any observer. 
The suggestion by Dr. Wyman that the eggs are removed from the mouth when the cat-fish 
desires to feed is quite plausible, nay, imperative, if the fish ever feeds during the progress of the oral 
gestation. But it seems to us much more probable that the fish does not feed at all during the period 
of oral gestation, and begins to take food only when the young have developed sufficiently to leave the 
mouth. This is evidenced by the greatly constricted condition of the oesophagus, and comports more 
nearly with the habit of many other species of fishes during the spawning season. 
Mr. Nelson informs us that these cat-fish are eaten by the natives, and that he himself regards 
them as the best fresh-water food-fish in Mexico. 
It is proper in this connection to call attention to the method of reproduction in the sea cat-fish 
(Galeichthys felis) . From information obtained in 1896 by Evermann and Bean, while studying the 
fishes of Indian River, Florida, they were convinced that this species is ovoviviparous. According to 
the testimony of competent observers among the Indian River fishermen and dealers, the adult females 
of this cat-fish are found filled with well-developed young in March, “each rolled up in a ball and the 
balls connected in a long string.” While the technical description is a trifle faulty, the evidence points 
very strongly toward the ovo viviparity of the sea cat-fish. 
6. Hhamdia wagneri (Gunther). 
The collection contains one specimen 11.5 inches long, from Teapa, and two others, 11.5 and 14.25 
inches long, respectively, from Frontera. Head 4 to 4.5; depth 5 to 5.5; D. i. 6, A. 10; eye 7.5 to 8 
in head, 3 in snout, high in head; snout 2.5; interorbital 2.5; barbels 6; mouth moderate, jaws 
equal; teeth in broad, cardiform bands on each jaw; maxillary barbel reaching adipose fin, but probably 
variable; mandibulary barbel to beyond base of pectoral, nearly twice as long as inner; head broad and 
flat, slightly longer than wide, covered with soft smooth skin; fontanelle in adult not continued behind 
eye; occipital process narrow, reaching about half way to dorsal spine; gillrakers 3 + 7 or 8; adipose fin 
2.66 to 3 in body, reaching slightly farther than anal; caudal deeply divided, its lower lobe broad and 
rounded, upper smaller and pointed; body tapering backward from head, much compressed behind. 
General color, brown, lighter below, many dark dots over body; a dark lateral band; base of dorsal pale. 
7. Pantosteus plebeius (Baird & Girard). 
One specimen of this sucker, 5.75 inches long, was obtained by Mr. Nelson from the Rio Piedras 
Verdes, near Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, and another 4.5 inches long by Messrs. Townsend and Barber 
from the Rio Casas Grandes near Old Casas Grandes, Chihuahua. 
8. Campostoma ornatum Girard. 
One specimen, 5.25 inches long, from near summit of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Chihuahua, 
near Colonia Garcia. 
9. Leuciscus nigrescens (Girard). 
One specimen 5 inches long from Rio Casas Grandes, one 5.25 inches long from near the summit 
of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Chihuahua, near Colonia Garcia, and one 5.75 inches long from Lake 
Santa Maria. 
