254 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
NOCOMIS, Girard 
Gen. Char. —Body short, stoutish and compressed, covered with large scales. The ventrals are inserted opposite the anterior 
margin of the dorsal, perhaps somewhat anterior to it. The caudal is furcated. The head is large, rounded upon the snout, 
which is declivous. The mouth is large and terminal, the lower jaw being slightly overlapped by the upper. A barbel upon the 
posterior extremity of the maxillary. Eyes moderate sized. Isthmus rather wide. The pharyngeals are stoutish, somewhat 
expanded upon their convexity; expansion tapering off' towards the tip of the upper limb, which is gently curved inwards. The 
inferior limb is scarcely longer than the upper, looks more slender, is flattened upon its extremity, which is turned outwards, 
causing a convexity inwardly. The teeth are of the voratorial kind of the hooked type, without grinding surface. They are 
sub-cylindrical, acerated and hooked, disposed upon a double series of one and four, in the following manner: 1 | 4—4 | 1. 
Syn. — Nocomis, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 190. 
This genus is allied to Semotilus by its pharyngeal teeth, differing chiefly from it by its 
mouth, which is not so deeply cleft, and by the presence of maxillar barbels, which are 
wanting in Semotilus. 
A second species of this genus, N. lellicus, inhabits the Black Warrior river, Alabama, and 
is mentioned in the “ Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. 
VIII, 1856, 213.” 
NOCOMIS NEBRASCENSIS, Grd. 
Spec. Char. —Head contained four times and a half in the total length. Posterior extremity of maxillary even with a vertical 
line drawn behind the nostrils. Eye sub-circular; its diameter entering five times in the length of the side of the head. Body 
stoutish and compressed, covered with large scales. Anterior margin of dorsal fin nearer the insertion of the caudal than the 
extremity of the snout. Dorsal and anal fins deeper than long. Caudal fin constituting the fifth of the length. Tip of ventrals 
overlapping the vent, although not reachii-g the anal fin. Reddish brown above, golden yellow beneath. 
Syn. —Nocomis nebrascensis, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 190. 
The anal fin is inserted posteriorly to the dorsal, both being narrower than high or deep. 
The ventrals are rather small; the pectorals being moderate sized. 
D 1, 8 + 1 ; A 1, 7 + 1 ; C 9, 1, 9, 8, 1, 8 ; V 8 ; P 17. 
The scales are nearly as deep as long, anteriorly sub-truncated, posteriorly rounded, with 
radiating grooves upon their posterior section only. The lateral line is nearly median, being 
but slightly deflexed upon the thoracic region. 
It is a fish about four inches in total length, of a uniform reddish brown hue above, and 
golden yellow beneath; a blackish streak is observed along the middle of the flanks terminating 
into a black spot at the base of the caudal fin. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
Cor. No. 
No. of 
Age. 
Locality. 
When col- 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of 
Collected by— 
No. 
of teeth. 
spec. 
lected. 
specimen. 
48 
2661 
3 
Adult... 
Sweet Water, a tributary 
of Nebraska river. 
1853 
J. S. Bowman... 
Alcoholic . 
J. S. Bowman... 
