54 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
evenly as far as the insertion of the caudal ; the base of the anal, as usual, ending before that of 
its opposite fin. The rays are all undivided. 
Br. VI—VI; D IX, 18 ; A 14 or 15 ; C 3, 1, 5, 4, 1, 2 ; V I, 4 ; P 15. 
The skin is smooth all over, except on a space immediately behind the pectorals, where the 
characteristic prickles of the genus may he seen, of a minuteness to deceive a superficial observer. 
The lateral line runs straightway from the upper part of the thoracic arch to opposite the last 
ray of the second dorsal, where it makes a sudden fall to reach the middle of the peduncle of 
the tail ; hence straight again towards the base of the caudal. Along the flanks it is much 
nearer the dorsal than the abdominal outlines. Large mucous pores are observed along the 
inferior surface of the dentaries and along the lateral line also. 
The ground color of the upper regions is of a reddish brown, dotted or maculated, and some¬ 
times even transversally handed with black. Beneath, unicolor, whitish, or dull yellowish. 
Fins blackish brown ; caudal and pectorals variegated with black; external edge of ventrals 
whitish; upper margin of dorsal yellowish. 
The species inhabits the fresh waters of California. 
List of specimens. 
Catalogue number. 1 
Corresponding No. 
of— 
No. of specimens. 
Sex and age. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Original number. 
Nature of specimens. 
Collected by— 
290 
2 
San Matter) creek, Cal 
1854 
R. D. Cutts_ 
Alcoholic. 
R. D. Cutts__ 
291 
2 
Yjc 
San Joaquin river, Cal---- 
1853 
Lieut. Williamson_ 
Dr. Heermann._ 
292 
1 
Yg. 
Upper Pitt river, Or- - -_ 
1856 
_do_ 
_do_ 
Dr. Newberry.-- 
3. COTTOPSIS PARVUS, Grd. 
Spec. Char. —Origin of first dorsal situated posteriorly to the insertion of the upper ray of pectorals. First ray of anal 
placed under the fourth of second dorsal. Extremities of pectorals extending to the anterior margin of the anal. Skin 
generally prickly ; lateral line slightly deflected upon the peduncle of the tail. Olivaceous, maculated with blackish. 
Syn. —Cotlopsisparvus , Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 144. 
This species may readily be distinguished from C. gulosus by a body more fusiform and a head 
more depressed, in which particulars it resembles C. asper most. The head forms exactly the 
fourth of the total length ; its upper surface is gradually sloping towards the snout, which is 
obtusely rounded. The jaws are equal in length, and the cleft of the mouth oblique upwards ; 
the posterior extremity of the maxillary reaching a vertical line intersecting the pupil nearly 
through its middle. The eye is of medium size, elliptical in shape ; its horizontal and greatest 
diameter entering nearly five times in the length of the side of the head. The preopercular 
spines are quite inconspicuous. 
The origin of the first dorsal is situated a little backwards of the insertion of the upper ray 
of the pectorals; its upper margin forms a depressed convexity ; it is connected by a membrane 
to the second dorsal. The rays are eight in number, inserted upon a base entering twice and a 
half in the length of the second dorsal. The latter is composed of twenty or twenty-one 
undivided rays, the tips of the posterior ones not reaching the insertion of the caudal. It is 
