Ichthyologia Ohiensis The edition consists of two Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/ichthyologiaohie01rafi /e pe tit's // a c/of Jt /tour put, e/e * x *t* f r . 1 ? *erfii t/~ A/AeS&^/o/iA ser Constantine Samuel rafinesque [ From his Analyse de la Nature. ] Ichthyologia Ohiensis or Natural History of the Fishes Inhabiting the River Ohio and its Tributary Streams BY C. S. Rafinesque A verbatim et literatim reprint of the original, with a Sketch of the Life, the Ichthyologic Work, and the Ich- thyologic Bibliography of Rafinesque BY Richard Ellsworth Call, m.sc. m.a. m.d. Ph.D Cleveland The Burrows Brothers Co 1 899 Copyright, 1899 BY The Burrows Brothers Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Imperial Press , Cleveland Contents Preface .... . . 1 1 Biographic Sketch • i5 Ichthyologic Work • 2 5 IcHTHYOLOGIA OhIENSIS (Text) • 37 Bibliographia Ichthyologia • 163 Appendix • i73 Illustrations Constantine Samuel Rafinesque Frontispiece From his Analyse de la Nature. Facsimile of Title-Page of the Original . 39 From the copy in the Library of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio. Sketch in Rafinesque’s Letter to Dr. Daniel Drake ..... 175 Preface The great importance of the Ichthyologia Ohiensis in ichthyologic nomenclature, coupled with its rarity, — the existence of but eight copies being certainly known, — makes necessary the republication of the work. In this edition, every fact of value to the bibliographer has been studiously regarded. Our reprint is an exact copy of the original, including all typographic errors, excepting only the style of type. We follow the original publication of the Fishes of the River Ohio as presented in The Western Review and Miscellaneous Magazine, a literary journal, published at Lexington, Kentucky, by William Gibbes Hunt, during the years 1819-21. The publication of the papers in question began in December, 1819, and proceeded at more or less regular intervals until their completion in November, 1820. During the publication of the magazine articles, Rafinesque had the matter arranged in octavo forms, and reprinted from the same type. Owing to the fact that the separate introductory titles to the several articles were omitted in the oversheets thus arranged, the pagination is slightly different, and the page matter is not exactly the same, in the place of original publication and in Rafinesque’s separate edition. To facilitate reference to both editions, the magazine pagination is inserted in its proper place in the text, bracketed and in roman type ; the pagination of the Ichthyologia is likewise inserted, in italic type. 12 ICHTH YOL OGIA OHIENSIS To further facilitate bibliographic accuracy, the subjoined table will serve to help. Especially is this inserted here in order that certain data, omitted in a similar list by Dr. David S. Jordan, in his “ Review of Rafinesque’s Memoirs on North American Fishes,” U. S. National Museum , 1877, Bulletin no. ix., p. 7, may be supplied, and that certain errors therein, in the matter of pagination and numbering of the parts of volumes, may be corrected : VOL. NO. DATE. SERIES NO. W. R. & M. M. 1. 0. 1. 5 - December, 1819. 1. 305-313- 1 - 13 - 6. January, 1820. 11. 361-377- 13-29. 11. I. February, 1820. hi. 49 - 57 - 29-37. 3 - April, 1820. IV. 169- 177. 37 - 45 - 4 - May, 1820. V. 235-242. 45 - 53 - 5 - June, 1820. VI. 299-307. 53 - 60. 6 . July, 1820. VII. 355 - 363 - 60-69. hi. 3 - October, 1820. VIII. 165-173. 69-77. 4 - November, 1820. IX. 244-252. 77 - 84 . By the aid of this table, the investigator of the fresh- water fishes of the Ohio valley will be able to verify any citation from either the Ichthyologia or from the original publication in The Western Review and Mis- cellaneous Magazine. I am under great obligations to Reuben T. Durrett, LL.D., of Louisville, Kentucky, for the opportunity to transcribe the text of this reprint from the orig- inal, and for numerous favors connected with the consultation of rare bibliographic matter in his library. Robert Clarke, Esq., of Cincinnati, has enabled me to consult the only copy of the Ichthyologia known to exist in the city, in the library of the His- torical and Philosophical Society of Ohio. He also had copied for me the additions which appear as a PREFACE 13 supplement in the Ichtkyologia, together with the index. Rafinesque therein has corrected certain errors in typography, and made a few changes in nomenclature, which usually escape the attention of those students who depend for information solely on the very rare magazine in which his papers originally appeared. The bibliography is reproduced from my Life and Writings of Rafinesque , which appeared in January, 1895, as “ Filson Club Publications Number Ten.” The portrait is reproduced from the same volume, and is that which appeared in 1810 in the Analyse de la Nature , in Sicily. R. E. C. Brooklyn, N. Y., December, 1898. Biographic Sketch Sketch of the Life of Rafinesque The author of the Ichthyologia Ohiensis , Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, was born in Galata, a suburb of Constantinople, October 22, 1783. His father was a French merchant of Marseilles, and his mother, Grecian born, of German parentage, from Saxony. Very little is known of the antecedents of Rafinesque, and the family name is now extinct. The early life of the lad was not dissimilar from that of his asso- ciates, save in the one respect that he early developed a love for Nature and the thousand varied ways in which her life laws were exemplified around him. The birds, plants, insects, and fish of his various homes — for his family frequently changed its resi- dence, owing to the business necessities of his father — early attracted his attention, and became the objects of his curious study. He seems to have been allowed full liberty in these matters, his scho- lastic training suffering to some extent through his great love of outdoor life. His father died when the lad was about eleven years of age, after which time his mother had the sole direction of his train- ing. His early reading was characterized by inor- dinate love of books of travel and adventure, further fostered, perhaps, by his father’s accounts of his travels, upon mercantile expeditions to foreign lands. At a very early period Rafinesque determined to become “a great traveler,” and for some years of 18 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS his early manhood it would appear that his ambition was to be gratified. Rafinesque made two voyages to America, the first in the year 1802. In the spring of that year, in com- pany with his younger brother Anthony Augustus, he landed in Philadelphia, “ provided with an adventure and many letters of introduction.” His father had conducted various mercantile adventures in that city, and had died there of the yellow fever, in 1793. Rafinesque himself had, at this time, settled upon the life of a merchant for his future occupation, and to the duties of his new relation he addressed himself with energy. But his love for the woods and fields, the flowers and animals there to be found, so well developed during the years of his boyhood, soon enticed him from the counting-room and the wearisome duties of a clerkship, and he began anew to cultivate Nature. Pie had already done very much among the plants of Italy and in France, in the region round about Marseilles, and he was not entirely unacquainted with the Linnean system of classification and nomenclature. On his arrival in America, from the very first the new and rich plant life had attracted his attention, and the long walks he took about the suburbs of Philadelphia soon made him acquainted with its floral wealth. Pie minutely described all the plants he found, as he himself remarks, and made drawings of many of them. Though bent on fortune, he had time for recreation, taken in these long scientific walks, and laid the foundation for his botanical work on American plants in later years. During this stay in Philadelphia, Rafinesque made the acquaintance of John D. Clifford, afterward a BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH 19 resident of Lexington, Kentucky, which chance acquaintance, first formed through business relations, afterward ripened into a warm personal and scien- tific friendship. This intimacy had powerful influ- ence in determining the later sequence of events in the life of our author. During the summer of 1802, the yellow fever again made its appearance in Philadelphia, and Rafinesque, remembering the sad experience of his father in 1793, abandoned the clerkship and the city for the summer, and went into the country. Here he de- voted himself assiduously to the collection and the study of plants, increasing his knowledge of the region by extensive collecting trips which took him far within the borders of the neighboring States. During this summer he was afforded abundant oppor- tunity thus to gratify a taste which had been culti- vated since boyhood ; and we are not surprised to find that, at its conclusion, Rafinesque returned to the drudgery of business with laggard steps, and that the irksome quiet of the office could not satisfactorily replace the joys and pleasures of the woods and fields. In 1804, Rafinesque resigned his clerkship to his younger brother, Augustus, and here ended, for a time, all attempt at a business life. He now devoted almost all his time to the collection of the rich flora about Philadelphia and the accessible portions of the States adjoining, having already concluded to return to Europe. How extensive these collections were one will never know; but, if a judgment be based upon the usual activities of Rafinesque in these mat- ters, he must have secured large numbers of plants. Thus passed the period until January, 1805, when both Rafinesque and his brother, “ who would follow 20 ICHTH YOL OGIA OHIENSIS him,” set sail for Sicily. He reached that beautiful island of the Mediterranean in the following May. For the next ten years he resided in Sicily, and, though these years were characterized by scientific work accomplished under difficulties and under pres- sure of business interests which would have made any other man wealthy, they brought to Rafinesque little save disappointment. This period of his life was also marked by some of the harshest experiences which come to men, and these seem to have had great weight in determining the course of the mental life of Rafinesque. It will be sufficient to pass over this period with the barest mention of the more im- portant episodes. Among these was the mesalliance of Rafinesque with one Josephine Vaccaro, an adven- turess, to whom he considered himself legally married, though no ritual, either civic or ecclesiastic, was ever celebrated. There resulted from this union two children, — a boy who died in 1815, at the age of one year, and a daughter who became a ballet dancer and singer in Palermo. Harassed by business re- verses, and the mercantile treachery of the Sicilians with whom he had commercial relations, Rafinesque finally determined again to visit America and to try anew the fortunes of the New World. He left his wife in charge of some of his property, and set sail with the balance of his possessions in the summer of 1815. His experiences on this memorable voyage read like a romance, ending in shipwreck, at the east- ern end of Long Island Sound, on Fisher’s Island, involving the total loss of all his years of toil, both scientific and mercantile. At home, too, fortune proved fickle; his wife “ suddenly married Giovanni Pizzalour, a comedian,” and dissipated the remainder BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH 21 of his possessions. Thus ended the domestic life of Rafinesque, and thus ended his worldly prospects at the time of his second visit to America. Few men are there who would have done better than Rafi- nesque did under these untoward circumstances. Though broken in spirit and discouraged, he did not completely surrender to the odds of the unequal struggle, but started in anew to woo the coy goddess men call Fortune; this time, however, with purely scientific ends in view, and with nothing to hold him, except painful recollections, to his unfortunate past. Like a man he faced disaster, and like a man he rose above adverse surroundings. Two or three years passed in the neighborhood of New York and Philadelphia, mainly devoted to scien- tific work, and that work primarily botanical, when Rafinesque conceived the plan of a botanical excur- sion beyond the Alleghanies into the great valley of the Ohio. At Louisville, on the Falls of the Ohio, dwelt one Tarascon, a friend of his youth in Mar- seilles; and Clifford, whom he had met in Philadel- phia, was now a resident of Lexington, the Athens of the West at that time. The fame of Audubon, at Henderson, had reached the ears of Rafinesque ; and he was not a stranger to that erratic scientific com- munity which had established itself under Richard Owen, at New Harmony, on the Wabash. This latter community was a scientific center in the new world, and Rafinesque knew some of the individuals constituting its personnel. All these facts combined to render the proposed excursion attractive to Rafi- nesque, and in the year 1 8 1 8 he set out, afoot, on the long journey. The incidents of travel were many, but must be 22 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS passed here in silence. The most important fact of the expedition was the meeting with John D. Clif- ford, at Lexington, who was instrumental in procur- ing the election of Rafinesque to a professorship in the great Transylvania University, then in the prime of vigorous growth under the presidency of the eminent Unitarian divine, Reverend Horace Holly. This marks the period of the greatest intellectual and literary attainments of Rafinesque, and gave him the opportunity he so long had sought. He was in a veritable new world ; the plants and animals had never been either collected or studied; the hand of the husbandman had not yet destroyed much of the primitive forest; untold wealth of natural forms appealed to Rafinesque, the Nature-lover, as they have rarely appealed to any man. To-day even, in the face of the check which specialization furnishes to scientific investigators, few men could withstand this lavish display of new and unknown forms! They were on every hand, in every glade and mead, every brook and spring, the creeks, the rivers, the very rocks themselves. Like a school-boy Rafinesque searched and found, studied, described, drew, sent abroad, the wonderful forms in which he, almost alone, now reveled. Here was his one serious mis- take ; but in face of the facts we may well pardon his widely scattered energy. Rafinesque remained nearly eight years at Tran- sylvania University; these were years of constant toil, with no one to sympathize with his work, for his friend Clifford had died in the second year of his residence at Lexington. The exposure and hard work, — for Rafinesque was an incessant worker, tak- ing little rest, — coupled with that Sicilian “ skeleton BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH 23 in the closet,” had their influence in undermining the once strong and vigorous mind ; and the close of the Lexington residence marks the beginning of the decadence of the mental clearness of Rafinesque, who, henceforth, met with naught but misfortune. But the important pages of the Ichthyologia Ohiensis had been prepared and published, the other numer- ous biologic papers had found their way to the world of science, and the Rafinesque of succeeding years has little or nothing of value to the man of science, and particularly none to the ichthyologist. Rafinesque left Lexington, in anger and haste, in the year 1825, to become again a citizen of Philadel- phia. After fifteen long years of further unequal and lonely struggle, after all but complete mental wreck, after the loss of mercantile emoluments, after bitter personal animosities with scientific men, after untoward experiences with the publishers of his numerous books and pamphlets, Rafinesque surren- dered to his last visitor, Death. Life closed in a lonely garret, amid filth and poverty, at Philadelphia, in the year 1840. He lies buried in an unmarked grave in Ronaldson’s Cemetery, Philadelphia, Ninth and Catherine streets. Peace came at last to him who in life knew none ! Ichthyologic Work Ichthyologic Work The papers and books published by Rafinesque which relate to ichthyologic matters date from the year 1810. The list is headed by the Caratteri di alcuni nuovi ge?ieri, etc. , based upon his studies of the fishes of the Mediterranean. The field thus entered was almost unoccupied, and there was little of sys- tematic history before his time. The elder Pliny, and a few since his time, had recorded various vaga- ries and some valuable facts relating to the Mediter- ranean forms ; but. systematic ichthyology was unborn until about the advent of Rafinesque. A single con- temporary of Rafinesque, A. Risso, of Nice, had accomplished some systematic work and laid the foun- dations of the ichthyology of the Mediterranean.* Whether Rafinesque knew of the work of Risso at the time he published his first paper, is a matter of difference of opinion. It is, however, quite certain that, though Rafinesque described fifty-one new genera and one hundred and fifty-four new species of Mediterranean fishes in the Caratteri , his work was *The full title of this famous work of Risso’s, for which I am in- debted to the courtesy of President David Starr Jordan, of Stanford University, is as follows: Ichthyologie | de Nice, | ou | Histoire Naturelle des Poissons | du department des alpes maritimes; | Par A. Risso, | Membre associe de l’Academie Imperiale de Turin, Corres- | pondant de la Societe philomatique de Paris, etc. | | Est quadam prodire tenus, si non datur ultra. | Horat. Epist. Lib. I. | | Avec II planches repre- sentant 40 poissons nouveaux. | Paris, | Chez F. Schoell, rue des F osses-Saint-Germain- | l’Auxerrois, No. 29. | | 1810. 28 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS less well done than that of Risso who immediately- preceded him. Risso better characterized his new forms; Rafinesque, on the other hand, had already lapsed into those careless methods of description which have caused succeeding naturalists so much trouble, and have led to so great a confusion in estab- lishing certain facts in nomenclature. Nevertheless, Rafinesque had already discovered the inadequacy of the Cuverian system, and had boldly made the on- slaught on the ranks of the artificial genera. What- ever else may be finally decided concerning the work of Rafinesque on the fishes of the Mediterranean, it will always be allowed that he shares equally with Lacepede, whose classic Histoire naturelle des Poissons was not unknown to him, the distinction of breaking up the old-time heterogeneous assemblages of the Cuverian system and of thus determining the forma- tion of generic subdivisions. Indeed, it is quite probable that Rafinesque saw this necessity before any other writer, since the subdivisions of Lac6pede are not, properly speaking, genera. Rafinesque seg- regated the groups, suggested their terminology, named the type, and in a very definite sense became the father of the new regime. The Caratteri was followed by several other papers, noted in the bibliography at the close of this volume, all of which related, so far as they concerned ichthyo- logic matters, to the fauna of the Mediterranean. The institution of additional genera, and the descrip- tion of new species, occupy most of these papers. But, in all this work, there are certain facts which the student must ever carry in mind in seeking to unravel the maze of the Mediterranean fishes. It should always be remembered that Rafinesque de- ICHTHYOLOGIC WORK 29 scribed from the fresh specimen ; he was a constant visitor at the fish-markets of Palermo ; he had such relations with the Sicilian fishermen that they brought him all the rare and odd forms which fell in their way. All, or nearly all, of the other earlier descrip- tions were based upon alcoholic types, and their diagnoses were made from shrunken and discolored specimens ; add to this the fact that descriptive ter- minology was yet in its infancy, and that exact scientific processes of measurement and color schemes were yet unknown, and the student will find a ready solution of some of the more important discrepancies between the work of Rafinesque and that of his contemporaries . It must ever be accounted a most unfortunate cir- cumstance that Rafinesque did not preserve, in some manner, the types of his genera. Once the technical description was completed, with a reference to some common form, if one chanced to be known, the fish was thrown away or in • some other manner failed of preservation. Rafinesque had no further use for it ! At the time of his Sicilian residence, he enjoyed the companionship and advice of the celebrated English naturalist, Swainson, then living in Sicily, who has recorded this habit of carelessness, and who persist- ently yet vainly urged upon Rafinesque the necessity of preserving his types. It is to Swainson ’s account of these days that all modern students are indebted for exact information concerning the lax methods of Rafinesque. In December, 1817, Rafinesque published his first paper on American fishes. It appeared in The Ameri- can Monthly Magazine and Critical Review, vol. ii., pp. 120, 12 1, and was entitled “ First Decade of new 30 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS North- American Fishes.” During the next two years Rafinesque published nine additional papers, all but two of which appeared in various American periodicals of that day. The other two were pub- lished, one in France and one in England. All of these papers dealt solely with the fishes of the inte- rior fresh waters of the United States, and were mainly concerned with fishes inhabiting the Ohio River or its tributaries. In a very definite sense, therefore, prior to the publication of the Ichthyologia which began in the year 1819, Rafinesque laid the foundations of North American fresh- water ichthyol- ogy. Some of the genera and species which he then established in occasional publications are still recog- nized by students in this special field; others he himself changed, or dropped into synonymy, in the one great work, the Ichthyologia. In this connection it should be remembered that only a single paper relating to American fresh-water fishes had as yet appeared, and that one was written by the celebrated and early naturalist Le Sueur, who had, in 1817, published his Notice de quelques Poissons dlcouverts dans les lacs du Haut-Canada, durant V etl de 1816. There are certain facts of a bibliographic charac- ter which the student may readily glean from the Ichthyologia itself, and which will be passed over in this place. Inasmuch as they relate mainly to the dates and place of original publication they are, in this connection, unimportant. But the nature of the collections upon which the volume is based, the localities at which Rafinesque collected, the fictitious forms which he described on the authority of others, the misapprehension of certain structural charac- ters, — all are important, and must be understood, if ICHTHYOLOGIC WORK 31 one would assign the author of the Ichthyologia to his proper place in the history of American ichthyology. So far as it is possible, these facts will now be presented. When Rafinesque entered upon his first western tour, in the summer of 1 8 1 8, he passed from Pitts- burg, with numerous stops, to the Falls of the Ohio, at Louisville, by means of an “ark,” — a sort of cabin flatboat common on the Ohio in the early days. At each place where stops were made he embraced the opportunity to acquire information concerning the fishes, far more numerous at that time than now, since sewerage and similar decimating influences were at their minimum. Many of the facts he gathered were noted in the neatly and regularly kept note-books, for which Rafinesque was famous. In addition to the knowledge acquired by observa- tion, he received many items of information which were in the nature of pure romances, communicated by others. These Rafinesque accepted in good faith. Both these classes of items were afterward embodied in his published works, with scarcely a hint as to either their source or their nature. But the first of the really important personal collections were made by him at the Falls of the Ohio, a locality abounding in the smaller varieties, and remarkably rich in indi- viduals of the genus Etheostoma. One of the most beautiful species belonging to this genus, the Etheos- toma flabellata, was described from the Falls, where it is still very abundant. Later, opportunity was afforded to Rafinesque to collect in the Kentucky River, at or near Frankfort; in the Cumberland, both near Nashville and in that portion of its course which is in southeastern Kentucky ; and in the Green 32 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS River, not far from Mammoth Cave. He also made a small collection near Shepardsville, in the Salt River. At all of these places more or less extensive observations on the fishes were conducted, always on the living forms, none of which were preserved after general description in crude and ill-conceived termi- nology. Some of his observations were recorded in proper form ; but, later, he supplied from a treacher- ous memory details which should have found place in his original notes, taken at the riverside. It is very evident, therefore, that the modern stu- dent who would attempt to understand correctly the species of Rafinesque must visit, with the original descriptions at hand, the very streams which the pioneer ichthyologist visited ; he must collect and observe the fishes in a fresh state, and not after their coloration has been destroyed and their forms dis- torted by alcoholic preservation. He must also allow for the dearth of a special literature, because there was none in existence. The groupings and descrip- tions were all, of necessity, at first hand. In a field so wide, among forms so numerous, with individuals often very closely related, as is the case in the large and important genus Notropis, before the days when systematic zoology had been reduced to the strictest methodical basis, when sexual variations were unsus- pected, and when nuptial brilliancy was regarded as a permanent factor, little wonder is it that synonymy was created, and that the true relations of many of the fishes actually seen were misconceived. There yet remains a most important detail in Rafi- nesque’s work on the fishes of the Ohio which must have explicit mention. During Rafinesque’s cele- brated visit to Audubon, at Henderson, it appears ICHTHYOLOGIC WORK 33 that, while a guest of the great ornithologist, he was victimized in a most cruel and reprehensible manner, incidents occurring which, in after years, were said to have been but a practical joke. Audubon’s facile pencil and vivid imagination conspired together to produce drawings of fishes, said to dwell in the Ohio, which were nothing if not wonderful. With a suave manner and with an air of absolute truthfulness, these drawings were shown to Rafinesque, and the size and beauty of their living prototypes proclaimed. With a hesitation that is painfully evident, in some cases at least, Rafinesque yielded to his penchant for framing new genera and describing new species, — the bane of later gifted writers, by the way, — and gave these grotesque forms a name and place in the ichthyologic system. Time, valuable time, has been lost in the vain attempt to find and properly place these mythical forms. That the names thus bestowed should be dropped goes without saying, but there are those who, knowing the facts in these cases, would yet insist upon relegating all the names pro- posed by Rafinesque to the limbo of synonymy. It would be better to drop these names without preju- dice; following this, the strict rules of priority, as enforced by the fair-minded man of science, will eventually determine the place of the remainder A There have been two almost insuperable difficul- ties encountered in attempting to correlate Rafi- nesque ’s species with those recognized at the present *The fishes which Rafinesque thus described on the authority of Audubon are the following: Perea nigropunctata , Aplocentrus calliops , Pogostoma leucops , Catostomus anisopturus, Catostomus niger , Catostomus fasciolaris , Catostomus (?) megastomus, Pylo- dictis limosus, Accipenser macrostomus, Dined es truncatus. 34 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS time. The first of these has been mentioned in the cases of the mythical species established “ on the authority of Mr. Audubon.” The second consists in the complete absence of authentic specimens. None of the types exist. It has remained, therefore, for the student to attempt to correlate the descriptions of Rafinesque with those of later writers, some of whom were in utter ignorance of his work, not to say species, and whose later determinations and descrip- tions are often based upon alcoholic materials. The limits within which Rafinesque collected fresh-water fishes in the Ohio valley have been indi- cated above. It should be a comparatively easy matter to collect in the streams which furnished the pioneer ichthyologist his data; but, so far as the writer is informed, a single student only, President David Starr Jordan, has sought thus to correlate the various descriptions, and thus to determine the synon- ymy. It is also very evident that Rafinesque did not regard variations in coloration and minor characters as such, but magnified them into facts having specific values, so far as species go. This treatment is con- sonant with that which he has accorded to numerous plants, and which is in line with his love for genus and species making. In the presence of a rich fauna, and in the absence of a distinctive literature, this may be condoned, though one must always regret that Rafinesque was not far more conservative. But that is now a matter of minor consideration. The important facts are, that fishes were collected by Rafinesque and described by him for the first time; moreover, they came from the Ohio and its tributaries ; some of them are recorded as being rare, others are declared to be abundant. What were ICHTHYOLOGIC WORK 35 these fishes? That is the one question which, for some species, yet awaits solution. A goodly number have been finally fixed upon, though space here forbids listing the Rafinesquian genera and species together with their modern nomenclatural identities. So far as this has yet been accomplished, the reader may find the results in the published writings of Dr. David Starr Jordan.* The Ichthyologia Ohiensis is, therefore, the literary foundation of American ichthyologic science. It marks the very beginning of our knowledge of the forms of the Ohio valley, — and, incidentally, of the entire Mississippi system, throughout which some of the forms that it first characterized are now known to range. A knowledge of the contents of this book must ever be indispensable to any student who attempts to work in this rich field. Bold almost beyond conception in its innovations upon accepted methods of nomenclature; without the check of crit- ical comparison of forms taken over a wide geographic range; faulty as it certainly is in the perspicacity and fullness of its technical descriptions; tattooed here and there with mythical names, or rendered almost puerile by the introduction of questionable details secured at second-hand; disregarding the sequential arrangement of its families and genera, each of which appears to be considered as an inde- pendent assemblage; yet, both from historic and *The chief of these, up to the present time, is a “ Review of Rafinesque’s Memoirs on North American Fishes,” U. S. National Museum , 1877, Bulletin no. ix. See also Jordan and Gilbert, “ Synopsis of the Fishes of North America,” U. S. National Mu- seum . , 1883, Bulletin no. xvi. ; Jordan and Evermann, ‘‘The Fishes of North and Middle America,” U. S. National Museum , 1896-98, Bulletin no. 47, [Four volumes]. 36 ICH THYOLOGIA OH IE N SIS scientific considerations, a peculiarly important place must be assigned to this remarkable book in descrip- tive natural history. Its final value will be lasting, if not great; its authority recognized rather than contemned ; its pioneer nomenclature and inadequacy allowed their full modicum of influence in tempering our judgment of its importance in ichthyologic bibli- ography. It is a book redolent of the sweetness of Nature, rather than of the dust of libraries. TEXT Rafinesque’s Ichthyologia Ohiensis Text reprinted from The Western Review and Miscel- laneous Magazine , vols. i.-iii. Supplement, Corrections, and Index (not published in The Western Review and Mis- cellaneous Magazine ) reprinted from Ichthyologia Ohiensis , Lexington, 1820. The original magazine volume and pagination, is indicated by inclosing within brackets the number of the volume and page in roman type ; the pagination of the Ichthyologia is indicated in a similar manner, in italic type. ©maaw^is® OR NATURAL HISTORY OF TIIE FISHES INHABITING THE HIVHH OHIO AND ITS TRIBUTARY STREAMS, Preceded by a physical description of the Ohio and its branches. BY' C. S. RAFINESQUE, Professor of Botany and Natural History in Transylvania University, Au- thor of the Analysis of Nature, &c. &c. Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York, the Historical Society ofNew-York, the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the American Antiquarian Society, the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences of Naples, the Italian Society of Arts and Sciences, the Medical Societies of Lexington and Cincinnati, &c. &c The art of seeing -well, or of noticing and distinguishing with accuracy the objects xuhich -we perceive, is a high faculty of the mind, unfolded in feio individuals, and despised by those -who can neither acquire it, nor appreciate its results. LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY. PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY W. O. HUNT. (PBICE ONE DOLLAR.) 1820, REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 41 These Pages and the Discoveries which they contain in one of the principal Branches of Natural History, are respectfully Inscribed by the Author; To his fellow-labourers in the same field of Science : Prof. Samuel L. Mitchill, M.D. who has described the Atlantic Fishes of New York, and to C. A. Le Sueur, who was the first to explore the Ichthyology of the Great American Lakes, etc. In Token of Friendship, Respect, and Congratulation. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 43 [I. 305] [5] NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF THE OHIO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARY STREAMS, BY C. S. RAFINESQUE, PRO- FESSOR OF BOTANY AND NATU- RAL HISTORY IN TRANSYL- VANIA UNIVERSITY Introduction Nobody had ever paid any correct attention to the fishes of this beautiful river, nor indeed of the whole immense basin, which empties its water into the Mississippi, and hardly twelve species of them had ever been properly named and described, when in 1818 and 1819, I undertook the labour of collecting, observing, describing, and delineating those of the Ohio. I succeeded the first year in ascertaining nearly eighty species among them, and this year I added about twenty more, making altogether about one hundred species of fish, whereof nine tenths are new and undescribed. Many of them have compelled me to establish new genera, since they could not properly be united with any former genus; and I could have increased their number, had I been inclined, as will be seen in the course of this ichthyology ; but I have in many in- stances proposed sub-genera and sections instead of new genera. I sent last spring to Mr. Blainville of Paris, a short account of some of them, to be pub- lished in his Journal of Natural History, in a Tract 44 ICHTHYOL OGIA 0HIENS1S named Prodr omus of seventy new genera of Animals and fifty new genera of Plants from North America, and I now propose to publish a complete account of all the species I have discovered. I am confident that they do not include the whole number existing in the Ohio, much less in the Mississippi ; but as they will offer a great [I. 306] [ 6 ] proportion of them, and, as the additional species may be gradually described in supplements, I venture to introduce them to the acquaintance of the American and European natural- ists; being confident that they will not be deemed an inconsiderable addition to our actual knowledge of the finny tribes. To the inhabitants of the west- ern states, to those who feed daily upon them, their correct and scientific account ought to be peculiarly agreeable. I trust they will value the exertions through which I have been able to accomplish so much in so short a period of time, and I wish I could induce them to lend me their aid, in the succession of my studies of those animals, by communicating new facts, details, and rare species. I may assure them that their kind help shall be gratefully received and acknowledged. The science of Ichthyology has lately received great additions in the United States. A few of the atlantic fishes had been formerly enumerated by Catesby, Kalm, Forster, Garden, Linnaeus Schoepf, Castiglione, Bloch, Bose, and Lacepede ; but Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell has increased our knowledge, with about one hundred new species at once, in his two memoirs on the Fishes of New-York, the first published in 1814, in the Transactions of the Liter- ary and Philosophical Society of New-York, and the second in the American Monthly Magazine in 1817. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 45 Mr. Lesueur was the first naturalist who visited Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, where he detected a great number of new species, which he has already begun to publish in the Journal of the Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia, and which he means to introduce in his General History of American Fishes, a work on the plan of Wilson’s Ornithology, which he has long had in contemplation. And I have added thereto about forty new species, which I discovered in Lake Champlain, Lake George, the Chesapeake, the Hud- son, near New-York, Philadelphia, the Atlantic, &c. and published in my Precis des Decouvertes, my Mem- oirs on Sturgeons, my decads and tracts in the American Monthly Magazine, the American Journal of Science, &c. besides three new fishes of the Ohio, published in the Journal of the Academy of Phila- delphia. Many other fishes of the United States have been partially [I. 307] [7] described by Bartram, Carver, Lewis and Clarke and other travellers. It is reason- able to suppose that several others have escaped their notice, and my discoveries in the Ohio prove this assertion. I calculate that we know at present about five hundred species of North American fishes, while ten years ago we hardly knew one hundred and twenty. Among that number about one half are fresh water fishes, and one fourth at least belong to the waters of the western states ; but, although there are fifty other species imperfectly known, I should not wander far from reality if I should conjecture that, after all, we merely know one third of the real num- bers, when we consider that the whole of the Mexi- can Provinces is a blank in Ichthyology, as well as California, the North West Coast, the Northern 46 ICHTH YOLOGIA OHIENSIS Lakes, and all tlie immense bason of the Missouri and Mississippi, except the eastern branch of the Ohio : all those regions having never been explored by any real naturalists. From those who are actu- ally surveying the river Missouri much may be expected ; but I venture to foretell that many of the fishes of the Ohio will be found common to the great- est part of the streams communicating with it, and therefore throughout the Mississippi and Missouri, whence the ichthyology of the Ohio, will be a pretty accurate specimen of the swimming tribes of all the western waters; while in Mexico, the North West Coast, and in the basin of the St. Lawrence or even in the Floridian waters, a total difference of inhab- itants may be detected : since I have already ascer- tained that out of one hundred species of Ohio fishes, there are hardly two similar to those of the atlantic streams. I have in contemplation to visit many other west- ern streams and lakes, where I have no doubt to reap many plentiful harvests of other new animals; mean- time communications on the fishes of every western stream are solicited from those, who may be able and willing to furnish them. It is probable that some of the fishes of the Missis- sippi are anadromic or come annually from the gulf of Mexico to spawn in that stream and its lower branches; but all the fishes of the Ohio remain per- manently in it, or at utmost travel down the Missis- sippi during the winter, although the greatest proportion dwell during that season in the deep spots of the Ohio [I. 308] [<£] This is proved by their early appearance at the same time in all the parts of the river and even as high as Pittsburgh. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 47 This happens even with the Sturgeons and Herrings of the Ohio, which are in other countries periodical fishes, travelling annually from the sea to the rivers in the spring, and from the rivers to the sea in the fall. Fishes are very abundant in the Ohio, and are taken sometimes by thousands with the seines : some of them are salted ; but not so many as in the great lakes. In Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, &c. fish always meets a good market, and sells often higher than meat ; but at a distance from those towns you may buy the best fish at the rate of one or two cents the pound. It affords excellent food, and, if not equal to the best sea fish, it comes very near it, being much above the common river fish of Europe : the most delicate fishes are the Salmon-perch, the Bubbler, the Buffaloe-fish, the Sturgeons, the Cat- fishes, &c. It is not unusual to meet such fishes of the weight of thirty to one hundred pounds, and some monstrous ones are occasionally caught, of double that weight. The most usual manners of catching fish in the Ohio are, with seines or harpoons at night and in shallow water, with boats carrying a light, or with the hooks and lines, and even with baskets. I am sorry to be compelled to delay the publication of my figures of all the fishes now described : these delineations shall appear at another period. To facilitate the knowledge of the streams men- tioned, I prefix a physical description of the Ohio and its principal branches. Lexington , Kentucky, \^th November, 1819 . 48 ICHTH YOLOGIA OHIENSIS River Ohio Head. It is formed by the junction of the rivers Alleghany and Monongahela, in Pennsylvania, at Pittsburgh, near the 40 y 2 degree of north latitude. It is difficult to say which of them is the main branch or stream, the Alleghany being the longest and in the most direct course, while the Monongahela ap- pears to be the largest at the junction, and to have similar waters. [I. 301 i.e., 309] [9] Direction. Although the Ohio is exceedingly crooked in its course, its general direction is south west and west south west : it as- sumes every other direction; but very seldom the opposite one, N. E. Mouth. It empties into the Mississippi, near the 37th degree of latitude, dividing the state of Ken- tucky from that of Illinois, which lies north. Connections. The Ohio is one of the principal branches of the Mississippi, and properly its great eastern branch. The two great western branches, the Arkansas, which is about 1800 English miles long, and the Red River, which measures about 1600 miles, exceed it in length, but not in size, nor in the num- ber of tributary ^streams ; nor in the extent of their basins. The northern branch or upper Mississippi is much inferior to it in all respects (it is only 775 miles long, and receives only seven large rivers,) Jr although it has been mistaken for the main branch. The real main branch is the Missouri, which takes REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 49 the name of Mississippi after its junction with the upper Mississippi. It flows 2700 English miles above that junction, receiving thirty-three rivers above 100 miles long, and 1 300 miles below, receiving twelve such rivers, having a total course of 4000 miles and forty five large branches. It is yet undecided whether the Yellow Stone or the Western Missouri is the principal upper branch. Length. From Pittsburgh to the mouth, it is 500 geographic miles in a direct course (60 to a degree) and 960 in the regular course, equal to 1120 English miles, (of 69^ to a degree ;) but if the Monongahela be deemed the main upper branch, the whole course will be 1360 English miles, while if the Allegany be considered as such, the whole length of the Ohio will be found equal to 1405 such miles. Adjacencies. It flows through Pennsylvania as far as Mill creek below Georgetown ; it divides after- wards the state of Ohio, which lie[s] on the right bank from Virginia; this state extends on the left bank as far as Sandy river, where Kentucky begins, and it occupies the remainder of the left bank, as far as the Mississippi. While the state of Ohio terminates on the north side at the Miami river: the state of Indiana follows as far as [I. 310] [/o] the Wabash river, and from thence the state of Illinois extends to the mouth. Parts. The Ohio is naturally divided into three parts, containing each two sections, the head branches Alleghany and Monongahela form the two sections of the first part. The second or upper part lies between their junctions and the falls, being divided into two sections by Letart’s rapids; while the third or lower part includes the space below the falls, the 50 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS first section of which terminates at the end of the narrow valley above Troy in Indiana, and the second which includes the broad and fiat valleys reaches to the mouth. The upper part of the river is the long- est, being about seven hundred miles long. Breadth. At Pittsburgh the Ohio is about one quarter of a mile wide, above the falls and near the mouth it is over one mile : its average breadth may be reckoned at half a mile or rather two thousand five hundred feet. Depth. Very variable according to places and times. The mean depth at low water may be reck- oned at three feet, and at high water at about thirty feet. Average medium fifteen feet. Velocity. The current of the Ohio is generally gentle, except at the falls and ripples. Its average at low water may be stated at two miles an hour and at high water at four miles an hour. Bulk. The quantity of waters flowing in the Ohio may be therefore calculated, upon a general medium of the above breadth, depth, and velocity, at about forty millions of cubic feet, during an hour at low water, and at more than eight hundred millions of such feet at high water. Average medium three hundred and eighty millions in an hour, nine thou- sand one hundred and twenty millions in a day, and more than three millions of millions of feet in one year. Waters. They are slightly turbid, and become much more so in the rises. At a low stage they are almost clear, and at all times very salubrious. The Monongahela has the same character, while the Alle- ghany is almost perfectly clear. The turbidity of the waters is produced by very fine particles of earthy REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 51 matter dissolved in it, and which are not easily- deposited, unless at high water, when mud and earth become mixed with them. [I. 31 1] [//] Valley. The Ohio flows in a narrow valley as far as Utica, above Louisville. This valley averages about one mile in breadth, and about three hundred feet in depth, but in some parts it is nearly five hundred feet deep. There are evident proofs that the river has formerly filled it. The sides are formed by steep cliffs and hills of sandstone as far as Vanceburg and the knobs below the mouth of the Scioto; beyond which all the strata are of limestone. Beyond those cliffs the country is broken, but much raised above the bottom of the Ohio Valley. The river meanders through it, leaving on each side, or only on one side, a level tract of alluvial and deep soil, which are called bottoms and were once the bed of the river. The cliffs correspond together, keep- ing at an equal distance, and every salient angle or elbow has an opposite bend. Below Utica and as far as Otter creek below Salt river begins the site of an ancient Lake, forming now a plain, which is about twenty-five miles long and ten miles broad ; the falls are situated in the middle of it : the silver hills bound it to the west, the knobby hills to the east and the barren hills to the south. Immediately below it are the narrows of Otter creek, where the valley begins again; but is not larger than at Pittsburgh, being hardly half a mile wide and the river is less than one thousand feet across. They both expand gradually until they reach the rocky narrows above Troy, where the valley, after being contracted to three fourths of a mile, while the river is nearly half a mile broad, expands at once into a low country or broad valley, 52 ICHTHYOLOGIA O HIE NS IS (the river being often one mile wide) which was for- merly a second lake, extending about one hundred miles to Cave-hill narrows, with a variable breadth of four to twenty miles ; only a few bluffs appearing occasionally on the banks, and the boundary hills being only one hundred and fifty feet high on an average. At Cave-hill or Cave in the rock, the river, from a mile broad, becomes at once very narrow, and the hills come very near the banks on both sides, forming a short narrows, below which stands another plain, which was once a third Lake, about twelve miles long and six miles wide : it ends at Grand Pierre creek, and the broad narrows between the north and south bluffs. Here begins the lowest part of the Ohio Valley, which grows wide gradually [I. 312] [ 12 ] and extends as far as the Mississippi, being from six to twenty miles wide and bounded by hills one hundred feet high on an average, and with very few stones. Basin. The basin of a river, must not be mis- taken for its valley, since it includes the whole regions watered by the streams flowing into it. The basin of Ohio is very extensive, including the greater share of the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana, with parts of Pennsylvania, New- York, Virginia, Alabama and Illinois, and a small corner of North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi, watering therefore twelve states of the Union. It occupies eight degrees of latitude from the thirty-fourth to the forty-second degrees, and about twenty-six degrees of longitude. Its whole surface includes at least half a million of square miles, and three hundred and twenty millions of square acres. Islands. The Ohio has a great many, about one REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 53 hundred and thirty; they are commonly long and narrow. Some sand-bars, lying in the middle of the river, are gradually becoming islands ; most of them are overflowed at the high waters. There are very few ancient islands, forming now insulated hills ; I have detected however half a dozen, the first of which lies just below Pittsburgh on the right bank. Bars. They are very common, are generally sand bars, and lie on one side or round the islands, very few stretch across the river : they produce ripples or a broken current. Some of them have hardly six inches of water, at the low stage of the river. Channels. The current of the Ohio is digging another bed, deeper than the actual one, which forms the real channel of navigation. It does not experi- ence many changes ; sometimes it happens to be very crooked, particularly near islands and bars. It generally follows and grazes the highest cliffs or banks, and sometimes becomes double round some islands. Banks. The actual banks are all alluvial and of a deep and rich soil, seldom quite sandy or muddy. There are in many bottoms a second and even a third bank, all very steep and from ten to forty feet high. The first bank is almost every where overflowed at high waters, the second never. The platforms be- hind the banks are sometimes lower than the edge of the [I. 313] [/j] bank. Many banks sink or are washed away in inundations, when the channel sets against them. Rapids. Many ripples become rapids at low water, and all the rapids disappear at high water, even those called the falls, which lay below Louisville. They are several passages of the river between rocky 54 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS islands, the waters flowing with great rapidity ; but hardly ever pitching over, except on the Kentucky side of the falls, where at very low water, there is a small fall of less than two feet. Their noise is heard at a great distance. A Canal will soon be cut on each side of them. Letart’s rapids and the Hurricane rapids are the most dangerous after the falls, yet they are merely large rock ripples. [I. 361] Bayous. They are narrow channels into which the waters flow at a certain stage of rise, form- ing temporary islands; they are not uncommon in the lower vallies, and are sometimes called cut offs; the longest lies below Evansville, forming occasion- ally a very large island opposite Hendersonville. Inundations. The Ohio is subject to periodical rises and to many adventitious ones. The highest happens in the spring, when the snow melts in the Alleghany mountains, and it has sometimes risen to fifty feet above the low water at some particular places, covering all the islands and bottoms of the first banks, and overflowing the towns built on those bottoms, such as Marietta, Shippingport, Lawrence- burgh, Shawneetown, &c. to the depth of ten feet or more. Another happens in the fall after the first rains; both subside pretty soon. Many others occur throughout the year, occasioned by rains. They are either general or partial, sudden or gradual ; but dur- ing the months of July, August, and September the waters are very low, while in January and February, they are covered with floating ice and even frozen over in the northern and upper part. The overflow- ings do not rise so high in the lower valleys ; but they expand more over the bottoms, often leaving behind pools and marshes. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 55 Phenomena. Eddies and whirlpools are common, particularly at high waters; but not dangerous. A natural echo is heard throughout the narrow valley. Fogs are common dur- [I. 362] [/y] ing the winter and spring in the valley, they pollect in the morning and last until the sun dissipates them : they preserve the valley from the chilling frosts, and render its climate milder than that of the adjacent country. The prevailing winds are westerly, and four times out of five a breeze blows up the stream, following the meanders of the valley : it is a deviated branch of the Mexican trade wind. Thunder storms are frequent in summer, and hurricanes have sometimes happened. Waves then rise high against the current and are dangerous. Intermittent fevers are not uncommon in the fall near some low banks and in the low bottoms ; but the climate is otherwise very healthy. Many springs are found along the banks and cliffs and many more appear at low water. Scenery. All the banks, and cliffs, and nearly all the islands are covered with trees, among which the Platanus occidentalis (Sycamore,) the Populus angulata, (Cotton tree,) and the Salix nigra (Willow) are the most common and conspicuous. The cliffs and islands offer every where very fine views and prospects, and the cultivation increases those natural beauties ; this is very conspicuous near Cincinnati, Maysville, Pitts- burgh, &c. Navigation. The River is navigated by Steam boats, Barges, Keel boats, Schooner barges, Rowing boats, Flat boats or Arks, Skiffs, Pirogues, Rafts, &c. of which many thousand annually descend the stream. Those which ascend it again amount annu- ally to many hundred, among which there are already 56 ICHTHYOLOGIA GHIENSIS more than sixty Steam boats, averaging the burthen of 150 tons each. The ascent is effected, besides steam, by sailing, poling, warping, and rowing, and is very tedious. The difficulties of the navigation consist in bars, sunken rocks, rocky ledges, snags or sunken logs, sawyers or moving snags, drifted logs, planters or upright trees, falling trees, sinking banks, sudden storms, rises and falls, drifting ice, rejecting currents, whirlpools, shallow water, ripples and rapids, &c. : but they are not dangerous except at some particular stages of the waters. In the spring rise the water is so deep that it may easily float vessels of 500 tons, even over the falls. Many large ships were built at Pittsburgh and Marietta, which safely reached the sea; [I. 363] [75] but since the introduction of Steam boats, Ships have been disused. Towns. There are already more than 125 towns and villages built on the Ohio. The city of Pitts- burgh, at the head of it, contains nearly 15000 inhab- itants. Cincinnati, in Ohio, contains above 10,000. The other principal towns are : Louisville, in Ken- tucky, at the falls, about 5000: Steubenville, in Ohio about 3000: Maysville or Limestone, in Kentucky, about 2000: besides, Beavertown, in Pennsylvania: Wheeling, in Virginia: Marietta, in Ohio, at the mouth of the Muskingum : Gallipolis in Ohio : Ports- mouth, Ohio, at the mouth of the Scioto: Augusta, in Kentucky: Newport, K. at the mouth of Licking River: Owensborough, K. Hendersonville, K. Vevay, in Indiana: Lawrenceburg, Ind. at the mouth of the great Miami: Madison, Indiana: Jeffersonville and New- Albany, Indiana, both at the falls: Evansville, Indiana: Shawneetown, in Illinois, &c. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 57 Branches. The Ohio receives immediately about 400 streams, of which 20 are rivers above 100 miles long, 54 are small rivers or large creeks, and more than 300 are brooks and runs. Its largest branches empty into the lower parts of the River, such as the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Wabash. They all flow in valleys similar to that of the Ohio and pro- portioned to their size. Many of them, such as the Scioto, Miami, Tennessee, Wabash, &c. have plains, which indicate former lakes. Most of them have rapids, ripples, bars, islands, &c. and offer the same phenomena as the Ohio, particularly the periodical rises and falls. I shall give some account of the 20 principal streams, which fall into the Ohio, in the order in which they join it. PRINCIPAL BRANCHES OF THE OHIO. 1. Alleghany. It rises in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, near the 42b degree of latitude, on the northern parts of the Alleghany mountains, and, after flowing through a small part of the state of New- York, it returns into Pennsylvania, until it joins the Monongahela at Pittsburgh and forms the Ohio. Gen- eral direction S. W. Length in a direct course 170 geographic miles, in the natural course 250, equal to 285 English miles. It has five great branches, the Conemaugh, Conewa- [I. 364] [/d] go, Tobas, &c. It is navigable throughout, and its stream is gentle and clear. 2. Monongahela. Rises in the Alleghany moun- tains of Virginia, near latitude 38. Direct course N. and 150 miles, in the natural course 210 miles, or 245 English miles. It has three great branches, of which the Yohogheny is the principal. Its breadth 58 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS at Pittsburgh is 1350 feet, being wider and deeper than the Alleghany. It flows in a deep valley, is subject to sudden rises, and has a turbid but navi- gable stream. 3. Mahoning or Big Beaver. Rises near Lake Erie, in latitude 42, and runs south through Pennsyl- vania, emptying on the right side of the Ohio, of which it is one of the smallest branches, and is even sometimes called a Creek, although its direct course is 80 miles long, and the natural nearly 140, or about 163 English miles, being very crooked; but it is shallow, full of falls, and hardly navigable. It is formed by the junction of the Shenango and Neshanock. 4. Muskingum. It flows through the state of Ohio, in a southerly direction, about 100 miles, but being very winding its natural course is 150 miles or about 175 English miles. It rises in a small lake of the Ohio ridge, which separates the bason of the Ohio from that of Lake Erie, near the 41st degree of latitude, and it joins the Ohio at Marietta. It is a large and navigable river, although it has a large rapid or fall at Zanesville and some other smaller rapids elsewhere. At the mouth it is 750 feet wide. It flows through a large valley, and receives four or five large branches, called Wills, Licking, Mohecan, &c. 5. Little Kenhaway. It rises in the Laurel hills, and flows through Virginia in a N. W. course of 90 miles, or 140 in a natural course, equal to about 163 English miles. It empties at Parkenburg, is partly navigable and has several small branches. 6. Hockhocking. Flows through Ohio. Direc- tion, S. E. length seventy five miles, by the real course REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 59 one hundred and twenty five, or about one hundred and forty English miles. It is a deep but narrow stream, navigable however as far as the two cascades. It had lakes formerly. 7. Great Kenhaway. Rises in the Alleghany Mountains, [I. 365] [77] near latitude 36, in North Carolina, and flows through Virginia. Course north- erly, one hundred and seventy five miles, real course very crooked, about two hundred and seventy miles or three hundred and fifteen English miles. It joins the Ohio at Point Pleasant. It is a fine, navigable and broad river, with many branches. 8. Big Guyandot. It rises in the Cumberland Mountains, and runs N. through Virginia, emptying itself at Guyandot. It is navigable sixty miles; length seventy miles, real course one hundred miles, or about one hundred and twenty English miles. 9. Sandy River. Rises also in the Cumberland Mountains near the 37th degree of latitude, and sepa- rates Virginia from Kentucky. It is a large but shal- low river, with three branches. Common course north, ninety miles in length, natural course one hundred and twenty five miles, or one hundred and forty six English miles. It is also called Tottery river and Big Sandy. 10. Scioto. It flows through the state of Ohio, rising in a morass of the Ohio ridge or table land, near latitude 40 1-2. It empties near Portsmouth after a southerly course of one hundred and ten miles, real course about one hundred and ninety miles or two hundred and twelve English miles. It is navi- gable one hundred and thirty miles, and is four hun- dred and fifty feet broad at the mouth. It has many bars and snags, but no falls. Its four principal 60 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS branches are Whetstone river, Paint, Darby, and Walnut creeks. It had lakes formerly. 11. Little Miami. Runs through Ohio in a S. S. W. direction of sixty miles, natural course one hundred miles or one hundred and fifteen English miles. It is not navigable. It joins the Ohio near Columbia and has several small branches. Near its head, it runs for a mile through a narrow chasm, with successive falls of two hundred feet. 12. Licking River. It flows through Kentucky in a N. W. course of one hundred and sixty miles, rising in the Cumberland Mountains, near latitude 37. It has two great branches, is hardly navigable, and winds very much. It empties between Newport and Covington, opposite Cincinnati. Real course about three hundred miles or nearly three hundred and fifty English miles. [I. 366] [/#] 13. Great Miami. It rises in the Ohio ridge, near latitude 40 1-2 and flows through Ohio in a S. S W. direction, dividing that state from Indiana at its mouth, near Lawrenceburgh. Com- mon course one hundred and ten miles, real course one hundred and eighty, or about two hundred and ten English miles. Its current is very rapid, and difficult to ascend. It has four principal branches, such as Mad river, Whitewater, &c. The mouth is six hundred feet wide, and its valley is very large. It was for[m]erly called Rocky river. 14. Kentucky. This fine river gives its name to the state throughout which it flows, in a N W. direction. It rises in the Cumberland Mountains, near the 37th degree of latitude, a high spot from which the Tennessee, Cumberland, Licking, & c. flow westward. Common course 180 miles, real course REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 61 340 and very winding, or about 400 english miles. It has 5 principal branches, Dick river, Black river, &c. It overflows in the spring and is then navigable even for Steam-Boats, &c. It has many rapids, but no real fall. Its valley is deep and often narrow; in the narrows, the limestone cliffs are 300 feet high, and very near each other, without any bottoms. It had formerly a few small lakes and hilly islands. It empties at Port William. Former name Cuttawa. 15. Salt River. Flows in Kentucky, rises in the knobby hills, course N. W. 80 miles long, nat- ural course winding about 140 miles, or 160 english miles. It is partly navigable and has many branches. It empties at Adamsville. 16. Green River. It rises in Kentucky, in the knobby hills, which are spurs of the Cumberland Mountains, and flows West and N. W. into that state. Direct course 175 miles, usual course about 350 or more than 400 english miles. It has four large branches, such as Barren river, Rough and Panther creeks, &c. It has a gentle current and is navigable. Its valley is very wide in the lower part, and when it joins the Ohio, above Evansville, its stream is almost as large as the Ohio. It was formerly called Buffaloe river. 17. Wabash. It rises in Indiana, on the ridge dividing the basons of the Ohio and the Lakes, near latitude 41^, and below it forms the limits between Indiana and Illinois. Direction S. [I. 367] [/p] S. W. Length 250 miles, real course 450 miles or nearly 525 English miles. It is a large and deep stream, navigable even in summer, as far as the falls. Its lower valley is wide and shallow, with many islands and bayous. It has five large branches, such 62 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS as Little Wabash, White river, &c. This last is very considerable and extends its numerous and large branches throughout Indiana ; the longest is 350 miles long, one of them runs parallel with the Ohio. It empties above Shawneetown. 18. Saline River. It flows through Illinois in a S. E. direction, emptying below Shawneetown. Length 55 miles, real course about 90, or 105 Eng- lish miles; it is therefore the smallest of the rivers emptying into the Ohio, although Big Blue river, Tradewater river, Little Muskingum, and Little Sci- oto, are still smaller and rather large creeks; their course being less than 100 miles, I have not noticed them. The Saline river is partly navigable and has three principal branches. 19. Cumberland. It rises in the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky, and after watering Tennes- see, returns into Kentucky, its course being W. and N. W. about 300 miles; real course about 500 miles or about 585 English miles. It is a fine navigable river, flowing in a broad valley, and with many small branches, but no large ones. It has also been called the Shawanee. 20. Tennessee. The last and largest of the branches of the Ohio. It is formed by the union of the Holstein and Clinch rivers in Tennessee, the former rising in Virginia near lat. 37, and the second in North Carolina, within the Alleghany Mountains near lat. 35. The whole course, if the Clinch river is deemed the main branch, will be three hundred and fifty miles, and the real course six hundred and fifty, equal to about seven hundred and sixty english miles. Duck river is another large branch of it, and there are three others besides. The direction is S. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 63 W. then west and next north, watering Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, &c. and emptying into the Ohio a few miles below the Cumberland, from which basin it is divided by a high ridge, and not far above the mouth of the Ohio. The Tennessee is a very large and fine navigable river, almost equal to the Ohio in size, but not in depth. Its valley is wide and has had many lakes, one of them was at the Muscle Shoals, which forms now a [I. 368] [ 20 ] small lake, full of rocky islands and rapids, and are a great impediment to navigation. It was formerly called the Cherokee river. SMALLER BRANCHES. The fifty four small rivers and large creeks, flow- ing into the Ohio are the following, of which thirty three empty on the right and twenty one on the left. They are all over thirty miles long in their natural course. In Pennsylvania, 3. Right bank, Little Beaver; and on the left bank Chartier’s Creek, Raccoon Creek. In Ohio, 17. Big Yellow creek, Warren creek, Indian Wheeling creek, Captina creek, Sunfish creek, Opossum creek, Little Muskingum river, Duck creek, Shade river, Kaygers creek, Campaign creek, Raccoon creek, Symmes’ creek, Brush creek, Little Scioto river, Eagle creek, White Oak creek. In Virginia, 7. Short creek, Wheeling creek, Big Grave creek, Fishing creek, Stony creek, Big Sandy creek, Little Guyandot river. In Kentucky, 12. Little Sandy river, Tygert creek, Kinniconick, Gunpowder creek, Bigbone creek, Harrod creek, Beargrass creek, Otter creek, Sinking 64 ICHTH YOL OGIA OH/E NS/S creek, Blackford creek, Highland creek, Tradewater river. In Indiana, 12. Tanner’s creek, Houghan creek, Loughery creek, Indian Kentucky, Silver creek, Buck creek, Corydon creek, Big Blue river, Little Blue river, Anderson river, Little Pigeon creek, Big Pigeon creek. In Illinois, 3. Lusk’s creek, Bigbury creek, Cash river. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 65 Fishes of the Ohio FIRST PART. THORACIC FISHES. Having complete gills, with a gill cover, and a branchial membrane. Lower or ventral fins situated on the breast or thorax, under the pectoral or lateral fins. I Genus. Perch. Perca. Perche. Body elliptical, scaly; head without scales, mouth large, jaws with unequal acute teeth, gill cover with a serrate preopercule [I. 369] [21] and a spiny oper- cule ; two dorsal fins, the first with spiny rays, the second with soft rays. Vent posterior. This genus was very badly defined by Linneus, Shaw, Bloch, and Mitchell; the above characters are now precise and apply to all the species that ought to remain in it, answering to the genus of Lacepede and the subgenus of Cuvier, bearing the same name. All the species belonging to it are voracious and prey on smaller fishes. There are only few species in the Ohio, which afford an excellent food. 1st Species. Salmon Perch. Perca Salmonea. Perche Saumonee. Jaws nearly equal, one spine on the opercule and another at the base of the pectoral fins : body length- ened, breadth one ninth of the length, brownish above, with gilt shades, white beneath: first dorsal fin with fourteen rays, second with twenty, tail 66 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS forked, all the fins spotted ; lateral line diagonal and slightly curved. A fine fish, from one to three feet long; it is one of the best afforded by the Ohio, its flesh is esteemed a delicacy, being white, tender, and well flavoured, whence the name of Salmon was given to it, and its shape which is nearly cylindrical and slightly com- pressed, with the head and jaws somewhat similar to those of the Salmons, has induced many to consider it a real Salmon, although its fins and gill covers are quite different. It has received the vulgar names of Salmon, White Salmon , and Ohio Salmon. It is not a .common fish, but is occasionally caught all over the Ohio and in the Kentucky, Licking, Wabash, and Miami rivers during the spring and summer; it ap- pears at Pittsburgh sometimes as early as February, while it winters in deep waters. It feeds on Chubs, Minnows, Suckers, &c. It is not often caught with the hook, but easily taken with the gig and seine. It has the back and sides gilt by patches, the head variegated with small gilt spots above and quite white beneath. The eyes are large, prominent and brown, situated above the corners of the mouth and surrounded with a gilt brown iris. The two dorsal fins are widely apart, the first ray of the first dorsal fin is short, the second dorsal fin is slightly falcate, they are both yellow as well as the tail and with brown spots, the other fins are pale yellowish with only a few brown [I. 370] [22] dotts. The rays are, in the anal 12, wherein the first is short and spiny, thoracic 6, the first hardly spiny, pectoral 14, caudal 20. The whole fish is covered with very small scales, and the lateral line begins above the opercule : the second spine outside of the opercule is remarkable. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 67 2d Species. Golden-eyes Perch. Perea chrysops. Perche oeuil-d’or. Upper jaw longer, one spine on the opercule, body oblong, breadth one fourth of total length, silvery with five longitudinal brownish stripes on each side, head brown above : lateral line diagonal and straight ; first dorsal fin with eight rays, the second has 14, whereof one is spiny, tail forked, roseate, tip brown; base scaly. Vulgar names Rock fish, Rock bass, Rock perch, Gold eyes, Striped bass, &c. It is commonly mis- taken for the Rock fish or Striped bass of the Atlantic Ocean, the Perea Mitchelli of Dr. Mitchell, (Trans, of the philos. Society of New York, vol. 1. page 413, tab. 3. fig. 4.) to which it is certainly greatly similar; but it differs from it, by the single spine of the oper- cule, the shape of the lateral line, the less number of stripes, the scaly tail, &c. It is not very common in the Ohio, and is hardly ever seen at Pittsburgh, being more common in the lower parts of the river, where it frequents the falls, ripples, and rocky shores. Its usual size is about one foot. It is very good to eat. It bites at the hook. The mouth is large with very small teeth, the three pieces of the gill cover are slightly crenulate, the middle one or preoper- cule being however deeply serrate. The eyes are large black with a large golden iris. The lateral line begins at the corner of the opercule and does not follow the curve of the back, the stripes are par- allel with it and only two of them rhach the tail. The branchial membrane has six rays ; the spine of the opercule is not terminal. The dorsal fins are rufous and quite separate, the two first rays of the first are shorter, the second is brown posteriorly and 68 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS diagonally, its base is scaly and such is also the base of the anal fin, which has similar colours, and 15 rays, whereof three are spiny. Pectoral fins with 16 rays. Thoracic fins incarnate with six rays, whereof one is spiny. [I. 371] \_2j] It will appear that this fish differs so widely from the foregoing, as to be hardly reducible to the same genus ; but its great similarity with the Perea Mitchelli has compelled me to retain it in this genus, notwithstanding many peculiar characters. I shall however venture to propose a new subgenus or section in the genus Perea for this fish, to which the P. Mitclielli , may perhaps be found to belong. It may be called Lepibema and distinguished by the scaly bases of the caudal, anal, and second dorsal fins, this last with some spiny rays, and all the three parts of the gill cover more or less serrulate, besides the small teeth. The Perea Salmonea may also form a peculiar sub- genus, or section distinguished by the cylindrical shape of the body, long head and jaws, large teeth, and a second spine outside of the opercule over the base of the pectoral fins. It may be called Stizoste- dion , which means pungent throat. I could have made peculiar genera of each of them, under the pro- posed names; but as they otherwise agree with the reduced genus Perea , I have preferred delaying this innovation until more species are found possessing the same distinctions, in which case my two perches may then be called Stizostedion salmoneum, and Lepibe- ma chrysops. 3d Species. Black dotted Perch. Perea nigro- punctata. Perche a-points-noirs. Upper jaw longer; body brown, covered all over REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 69 with black dotts, breadth one sixth of the length, lateral line nearly straight the anal fins very long, tail truncate. I have not seen this species, I describe it from a drawing made by Mr. Audubon. I am therefore doubtful, whether it is a real perch, par- ticularly since the drawing does not show the ser- ratures and spines of the gill cover. It might be a Sciena, or a Dipterodon, yet the shape of the body and the distant dorsal fins, induce me to rank it with the G. Perea until better known ; when it may even turn out to be a peculiar genus, which the flexuose oper- cule, long anal fin and vent in the middle of the body, seem to indicate, and should it be a real perch, it must form a peculiar subgenus, which may be called Pomacampsis in either case. The vulgar names of this fish are Black Perch, Widow’s Perch, Dotted Bass, Black Bass, Batchelor’s Perch, & c. It is found only in the lower parts [I. 372] [2^] of the Ohio, from the falls to the mouth, and it runs up the small creeks, but is rare every where. Its length is from six to twelve inches. The snout is rounded, the head slop- ing and small, the preopercule rounded, the opercule flexuose or nearly lobate ; the eyes are black and beyond the mouth. The back is almost black, the two dorsal fins are dotted like the body, the first has about twelve spiny rays, and the second about eight soft rays, this last is very near the tail. The anal fin has about twenty rays and begins just below the vent and the end of the first dorsal fin. Vent in the middle of the body, almost nearer the head. II Genus. Bubbler. Amblodon. Amblodon. Body elliptical, compressed, scaly; head and gill covers scaly, jaws with small fily teeth, throat with 70 ICHTH YOL OGIA OHIENSIS a triangular bone beneath, covered with large round hollow and obtuse teeth. Gill cover with two pieces, preopercule slightly denticulate at the base, oper- cule without teeth nor spines: branchial membrane with six rays. Two dorsal fins contig[u]ous, the first spiny, the second partly so, scaly along the base. Vent posterior. This genus was called by me Aplodinotus G. 8. of my Memoir on 70 New Genera of American animals, in the journal of Natural History of Paris, having been led into error, in supposing that the remarkable teeth of its throat belonged to the Buffalo fish, as will be seen below. The name means obtuse teeth. It differs from the G. Sciena by the scaly head, oper- cule and base of second dorsal fin, besides the singu- lar teeth. Only one species is known as yet. 4th Species. Grunting Bubbler. Amblodon grun- niens. Amblodon grognant. Synonymy. Sciena grunniens Raf. Catal, fishes of Ohio. Aplodinotus grunniens. Raf. Mem. on 70 N. G. Animals, G. 8. Entirely silvery, upper lip longer, lateral line curved upwards at the base, bent in the middle, and straight posteriorly, tail lunulate, first dorsal fin with nine rays, the first very short, the second with 35 rays, the first spiny and short. The vulgar names of this fish are White-perch, White-pearch, Buff aloe-perch, grunting-perch, bub- bling-fish, bubbler, and muscle-eater. It is one of the largest and best found in the Ohio, reaching sometimes to the length of three feet and the [I. 373] [25] weight of thirty pounds, and affording a delicate food. It is also one of the most common, being found all over the Ohio, and even the Monongahela REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 71 and Alleghany, as also in the Mississippi, Tennessee* Cumberland, Kentucky, Wabash, Miami, &c. and all the large tributary streams : where it is permanent, since it is found at all seasons except in winter. In Pittsburgh it appears again in February. It feeds on many species of fishes, Suckers, Catfishes, Sun- fishes, &c. but principally on the muscles, or various species of the bivalve genus Unio, so common in the Ohio, whose thick shells it is enabled to crush by means of its large throat teeth. The structure of those teeth is very singular and peculiar, they are placed like paving stones on the flat bone of the lower throat, in great numbers and of different sizes; the largest, which are as big as a man’s nails, are always in the centre ; they are inverted in faint alveoles, but not at all connected with the bone; their shape is circular and flattened, the inside always hollow, with a round hole beneath : in the young fishes they are rather convex above and evi- dently radiated and mamillar ; while in the old fishes they become smooth, truncate, and shining white. These teeth and their bone are common in many museums, where they are erroneously called teeth of the Buffalo-fish or of a Cat-fish. I was deceived so far by this mistake and by the repeated assertions of several persons, as to ascribe those teeth to the Buffalo-fish, which I have since found to be a real Catostomus; this error I now correct with pleasure. A remarkable peculiarity of this fish consists in the strange grunting noise, which it produces, and from which I have derived its specific name. It is intermediate between the dumb grunt of a hog and the single croaking noise of the bull frog : that grunt is only repeated at intervals and not in quick succes- 72 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS sion. Every navigator of the Ohio is well acquainted with it, as they often come under the boats to enjoy their shade in summer and frequently make their noise. Another peculiarity of this fish, is the habit which it has of producing large bubbles in quick succession, while digging through the mud or sand of the river, in search of the Muscles or Unios. It has a small head, sloping and compressed all the way from [I. 374] [ 26 ] the snout to the dorsal fins and entirely scaly; thick, hard, and extensible lips, and 2 nostrils on each side, the posterior larger oblong & obliqual : the opercule is rounded with gilt shades; those shades extend to the sides of the body, while the back is slightly dark or brownish, and the upper part of the head olivaceous. The iris is gilt brown and the fins are brownish, except the thoracic and pectoral, which are reddish; these last have 18 rays, while the thoracic have seven, whereof the first is spiny and the second mucronate. Tail with twenty rays. Anal fin narrow elongate, brown tinged with reddish, and with nine rays, whereof the first is spiny, very small and flat, the second is also spiny, but very thick, large and triangular, the third ray is the long- est and the last is mucronate. The first dorsal fin is triangular and broader than the second, which is very long and rounded behind. This fish is either taken in the seine or with the hook and line ; it bites easily, and affords fine sport to the fishermen. It spawns in the spring, and lays a great quantity of eggs. Ill Genus. Calliurus. Painted Tail. Calliure. Body elongate, compressed, scaly; fore part of the head without scales, neck and gill-covers scaly: REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 73 mouth large with strong teeth in both jaws, and without lips. Gill cover double, preopercule divided downwards into three curved and carinated sutures, without serrature : opercule with an acute and mem- branaceous appendage, before which stands a flat spine. One dorsal fin, spiny anteriorly, depressed in the middle. Anal fin with spiny rays, thoracic with none, and only five soft rays. Vent nearly medial. The generic name means fine tail. It differs prin- cipally from the genus Holocentrus , by the head, scaly gill cover and singular propercule: Genus 12 of my 70 New Genera of American Animals. 5th Species. Dotted Painted tail. Calliurus Punctulatuse . Calliure pointille. Lower jaw longer: body olivaceous crowded with blackish dotts: head brownish, flattened above: lat- eral line hardly curved upwards at the base: tail unequally bilobed, lower lobe larger, base yellow, middle blackish, tip white: dorsal fin yellow with 24 rays, of which 10 are spiny. [I. 375] [2f\ An uncommon fish from four to twelve inches long. I observed it at the falls; rare in the Ohio, more common in some small streams. Vulgar names, Painted-tail or Bride-perch. Tail with two lobes, slightly unequal, base flexuose. Belly and lower fins pale, anal fin with 13 rays, the three ante- rior spiny and shorter, behind rounded and far from the tail, although nearer than the dorsal fin. Tho- racic fin with five rays, none of which appear spiny, and no appendage. Pectoral fins short, trapezoidal, with 15 rays. Branchial rays concealed. IV. Genus. Sunfish. Icthelis. Icthele. Body elliptical or oval very compressed, scaly. Mouth small, with small teeth and thin lips. Gill 74 ICHTHYOLOGIA 0HIENS1S cover double, scaly, without serrature or spines. One dorsal fin, broader behind, with anterior spiny rays, as well as the anal and thoracic fins, these with- out appendages. Vent hardly posterior. Lateral line following the curve of the back. Synonymy Lepomis. Prod. 70 New Genera, 13 Genus. An extensive genus, which contains perhaps 20 species, most of which were blended with the Labrus anritns and Labrus virginicus of Linneus. They differ from the genus Labrus or rather Sparus, by the scaly opercule and the thoracic fins without appendage. I have already detected six species in the western waters; but there are more. I divide them into two subgenera. Meaning Sun-fish. All good to eat, and easily taken with the hook; they feed on worms and young fishes. They are permanent. 1st Subgenus. Telipomis. Opercule without appendage ; but spotted — Mean- ing spotted gills. 6th Species. Gilded Sunfisii. Lcthelis macrochira. Icthele macrochire. Body oval, oblong, gilt, crowded with small brown dotts; head small, scaly, opercule flexuose, spot nar- row marginal and black, jaws equal: tail forked: pectoral fins long and narrow, reaching the anal fin, which has 13 rays, whereof three are spiny. A pretty species from three to four inches long. In the Ohio, Green river, Wabash, &c. Names, Sun- fish, Gold-fish, &c. Head rather acute, not scaly before the eyes. Iris gilt brown. [I. 376] [28] Dor- sal fin with 22 long rays, whereof 1 1 are spiny, a depression between the two sorts of rays. Anal fin REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 75 broad and rounded. Tail 20 rays. Thoracic one and five. Pectoral 15. Diameter of the body nearly one fourth of total length. 7th Species. Blue Sunfish. Icthelis cyanella. Icthele bleuatre. Body elliptic, elongate, diameter one fifth, oliva- ceous gilt, crowded with irregular blue dotts; brown- ish above : head elongate, lower jaw longer, cheeks with blue flexuose lines; spot oblong blackish, nearly marginal : tail rounded, notched : anal fin very broad with 12 rays, whereof three are short spiny: pectoral fins very short. A small species hardly three inches, called Blue- fish or Sun-fish. I found it on the Ohio at the falls. Appearing entirely blue at a distance. Head brown above. Iris gilt. Opercule curved. Tail olive blue, with 24 rays. Dorsal fin brownish with 20 rays, whereof 10 are spiny, hardly any middle depression. Pectoral small trapezoidal, 12 rays. Thoracic one and five. 8th Species. Blackeye Sunfish. Icthelis mela- nops Icthele aeuil-noir. Body oblong, diameter one fourth, olivaceous cov- ered with blue dotts, neck brown above, head large, mouth rather large, upper jaw longer; opercule with blue curved and longitudinal lines beneath : spot rounded black at its base : fins olivaceous, tail bilobed : anal fin with three and nine rays : pectoral fins large oboval. Length from two to six inches: common in the tributary streams of the Ohio, the Kentucky, Licking, Miami, &c. and even in small creeks. Vulgar names, Blue-fish, Black-eyes, Sun-fish, Blue-bass, &c. It has black eyes like* all the other species; but the iris is 76 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS black also, with a silvery hue or ring. Dorsal fin with ten and ten rays, the spiny ones very short. Caudal 20. Pectoral 16. Thoracic one and five, as usual; but the spiny ray is very short, as are also those of the anal fin. 2d Subgenus. Pomotis. Opercule with a membranaceous appendage, often like an auricule and spotted. Meaning eared gills. [I. 377] [ap] 9th Species. Redeye Sunfish. Icthe- lis Enythrops. Itchele oeuil rouge. Body oval elliptic, (diameter one third,) blackish above, olivaceous on the sides, whitish beneath : head small, lower jaw longer, propercule flexuose, oper- cule with a short, angular and acute appendage, a faint and small brown spot above it: tail bilobed, ciliate, base black, middle olivaceous, tip whitish, up- per lobe rather larger: anal fin with six and ten rays : pectorals trapezoidal large, not reaching the vent. [II. 49] 10th Species. Eared Sunfish. Icthelis aurita. Icthele oreillee. Body oval elliptic (diameter one third) olivaceous with blue and rufous dots: head small, jaws equal, opercule flexuose, appendage black, broad and trun- cate, some blue flexuose lines on the sides of the head: tail brownish lunulate; back brownish: anal fin 3 and 9: pectorals not reaching the vent. Tho- racic mucronate. Length from 3 to 12 inches: common in the rivers, creeks, and ponds of Kentucky. Vulgar name Sun- fish. Iris brown. Dorsal fin brownish, 10 and 10, spiny rays shorter. Thoracic fins very long, spiny ray rather shorter, first soft ray mucronate. Pectorals nearly rhomboidal, with 14 rays. Tail 16 rays. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 77 nth Species. Big-ear Sunfish. Icthelis megalotis. Icthele megalote. Body oval rounded, (diameter two fifths,) ches[t]nut colour with blue dots, belly red: head large, lower jaw longer, opercule with blue flexuose lines, appen- dage black, very large elliptic, end rounded : tail black, slightly forked: pectoral large reaching the vent: anal fin 3 and 9: thoracics long and mucronate. Black tail. A fine species, called Red-belly, Black-ears, Black- tail Sun-fish, &c. It lives in the Kentucky, Licking, and Sandy rivers, &c. Length from 4 to 8 inches. Head very sloping. Iris sil- [II. 50] [jo] very brown. Belly of a bright copper red colour. All the fins black except the pectorals which are olivaceous, trapezoidal acute and large. The dorsal has 20 rays, whereof 9 short ones are spiny. Body very short, hardly as long as broad, if the head and tail are deducted. Thoracics like those of the foregoing species. V Genus. River Bass. Lepomis. Lepome. This genus differs from Holoceyitrus by having the opercule scaly, from Calliurus by the opercule only being such, while the preopercule is simple and united above with a square suture over the head, besides the thoracic fins with 6 rays. Perhaps the Calliurus ought only to be a subgenus of this. From the G. Icthelis it differs by the large mouth and spines on the opercule. The name means scaly gills. The species are numerous throughout the United States. They are permanent; but ramblers in the Ohio and tributary streams. They are fishes of prey, and easily caught ICHTHYOL OGIA OHIENSIS with the hook. I shall divide them into two sub- genera. I had wrongly blended this genus and the Icthelis under the name Lepomis 13. G. of my Prodr. N. G. 1st Subgenus. Aplites. Only one flat spine on the opercule, decurrent in a small medial opercule : first ray of the thoracic fins soft or hardly spiny. Meaning, single weapon. 12th Species. Pale River-bass. Lepomis pallida. Lepome pale. Olivaceous above, white beneath, a brown spot at the base of the lateral line, an obtuse appendage on the opercule, spine behind it: 3 faint obliqual streaks on the gill covers; lower jaw longer: tail forked, pale yellow, tip brown. Not uncommon in the Ohio, Miami, Hockhocking, &c. Vulgar name Yellow Bass, common Bass, &c. Length from 4 to 12 inches. Shape elliptic, diameter one fourth of the total length. Fins olivaceous, without streaks, dorsal depressed or interrupted in the middle, 9 spiny rays to the fore part, the medial longer, 1 spiny ray and 14 soft rays to the hind part. Anal fin rounded 13 rays, whereof 2 are spiny and short. Pectorals rounded with 14 rays. Tail with 18. Thoracics with 6. Eyes [II. 51] [j/] large, black, iris brown with a gold ring. Lateral line following the back, straight near the tail. 13th Species. Streaked-cheeks River-Bass. Lepomis trifasciata. Lepome trifasciee. Whitish, crowded with unequal and irregular specks, of a gilt olive colour, none on the belly: gill covers with 3 large oblique streaks of the same colour: opercule without appendage, spine acute, a REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 79 faint brown spot below the lateral line: lower jaw longer: dorsal fin streaked behind: tail forked, yel- low at the base, brown in the middle, tip pale. Found in the Ohio and many other streams, reaches over a foot in length sometimes : vulgar names Yellow bass, Gold bass, Yellow perch, Streaked-head, &c. Fins olivaceous: dorsal hardly depressed in the mid- dle with 24 rays, whereof 10 are spiny, hind part with 3 brownish and longitudinal streaks. Anal fin rounded with 13 rays, 3 of which are spiny, 2 short and a long one. Pectoral fins nearly triangular and acute, 16 rays. Thoracics 6. Tail 2, very broad, forks divaricate nearly lunulate. Eyes small black, iris brown. Lateral line following the back. Diame- ter less than one fourth of the length. 14th Species. Brown River-bass. Lepomis flexii- olaris. Lepome flexueux. Olivaceous brown above, sides with some trans- versal and flexuose olive lines, belly white: lateral line nearly straight flexuose: spine broad acute, behind the base of the opercule, no appendage nor spot, preopercule forked downwards: upper jaw slightly longer: tail bilobed, base olive, middle brown, tip white. A fine species, reaching the length of two feet, and affording an excellent food. Common all over the Ohio and tributary streams. Vulgar names, Black Bass, Brown Bass, Black Pearch ; &c. Fins oliva- ceous, dorsal with 23 rays, whereof 9 are spiny and rather shorter: anal with 12 rays, whereof 2 are spiny: pectorals trapezoidal, 16 rays. Branchial rays uncovered. Iris brown. This fish might perhaps form another subgenus, by the large mouth, head without upper sutures, spine hardly decurrent, nearly 80 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS equal jaws, gill covers, lateral line, &c. Its tail and preopercule are somewhat like Calliurus. It might be called Nemocampsis, meaning flexuose line. Diameter one fourth of the length. [II. 52] 2d Su'bgenus. Dioplites. Opercule with two spines above. First ray of the thoracic fins spiny. Lateral line curved as the back. Meaning two weapons. 15th Species. Trout River-bass. Lepomis Sal- monea. Lepome saumone. Olivaceous brown above, sides pale with some round yellowish spots, beneath white: preopercule simple, head without sutures, lower . jaw hardly longer, spines flat, short, acute, and decurrent above and beneath, opercule acute beneath the spines: tail lunulate, tip blackish : vent posterior. Length from 6 to 24 inches. Vulgar names White Trout, Brown Trout, Trout Pearch, Trout Bass, Brown Bass, Black Bass, Black Pearch, &c. Com- mon in the Kentucky, Ohio, Green; and Licking rivers, &c. It offers a delicate white flesh, similar to the Perea Salmonea. It is a voracious fish, with many rows of sharp teeth on the jaws and in the throat. It bites easily at the hook, and eats suckers, minnows, and chubs. Diameter one fifth of the length. Fins olivaceous brown ; dorsal with 2 5 rays, whereof 10 are spiny, slightly depressed between them : anal rounded small, 3 and 1 1 rays. Pectoral acute trapesoidal 18 rays. Thoracic 1 and 5, spiny ray half the length. Tail with 24 rays. Iris silvery. 1 6th Species. Spotted River-bass. Lepomis no- tata. Lepome tache. This species differs merely from the foregoing, by REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 81 having a black spot on the margin of the opercule, two diagonal brown stripes on each side of the head below the eyes, and all the fins yellow, except the tail which is black at the end, with a narrow white tip. It is also smaller, from 3 to 8 inches long. It bears the same vulgar names and is found along with it, of which some fishermen deem that it is the young. But I have seen so many false assertions of the kind elsewhere, that I am inclined to doubt this fact, as it would be very strange that the gradual changes should be so great. Yet this ought to be enquired into, since many vulgar opinions are often found to be correct. 17th Species. Sunfish River-bass. Lepomis ictheloides. Lepome ictheloide. [II. 53] [jj] Silvery, olivaceous above, some faint blackish spots on the sides: lower jaw hardly longer, head with sutures, two flat, broad and obtuse spines above the opercule, decurrent with the sutures. Vent medial. Tail lunulate. Diameter one fourth of the length. A very distinct species from the two foregoing. It might almost form a peculiar subgenus, by the medial vent, and obtuse spines situated above the lateral line and opercule. It might be called Amblo- plites or obtuse weapons. It is found in the Ken- tucky and tributary streams. Vulgar names White Bass, or Sunfish Bass. Length from 4 to 8 inches. It is also a fish of prey and has many rows of sharp teeth. Its flesh is like that of the Sunfishes. Lat- eral line following the curve of the back. Iris sil- very. Body with gilt shades; dorsal with 21 rays, 11 spiny, no depression. Anal 15, whereof 5 are spiny and gradually shorter. Thoracics 1 and 5. 82 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHJENSIS Pectoral broad 12 rays. Tail 16. Branchial rays 5. A faint and narrow marginal black spot on the oper- cnle beneath the spines. VI Genus. Pomoxis. Pomoxis. Pomoxe. Body elliptic, compressed, scaly. Vent anterior. Head scaleless, jaws plaited extensible, roughened by very minute teeth. Gill cover smooth, scaleless, pro- percule forked beneath, opercule membranaceous and acute posteriorly. Thoracic fins without appendage, but a spiny ray. One dorsal fin opposite to the anal, both with many spiny rays. A very remarkable genus by the anterior vent, equal anal and dorsal fin, by which it differs from the genus Sparus , besides the want of appendage, &c. The name means acute opercule. 1 8th species. Gold-ring Pomoxis. Pomoxis annularis . Pomoxe annulaire. Synonymy. Pomoxis annularis. Journal of the Acad, of Nat. Science of Philadelphia, vol. 1, p. 417, tab. 17, fig. 1. Silvery, back olivaceous, with some geminate brown transversal lines ; a golden ring at the base of the tail; lateral line straight: dorsal and anal fins with six spiny rays, a marginal black spot behind both fins: tail forked: lower jaw longer. Vulgar names Gold-ring and Silver-perch. Found in August at the falls, probably permanent. Length from three to [II. 54] [ jy] six inches. Good to eat. Eyes black, iris silvery. Diameter three tenths of the length. Head gilt above. Pectoral fins reaching the vent. Scales deciduous and a little ciliated. End of the tail blackish. Spiny rays of the anal and dorsal fins gradually longer, but shorter than the soft REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 83 rays, which are also gradually decreasing; the dorsal has only 14, while the anal has 16 such rays. Cau- dal 28. Thoracic one and five. VII Genus. Red-eye. Aplocentrus. Aplocentre. Body elliptic, compressed. Head small, jaws with lips and teeth, opercule smooth and flexuose. Vent medial. One longitudinal dorsal fin with only one spine. A singular genus, intermediate between Labrus, Cynedus, and Coryphena ; but belonging to the family of Labrides. The name means single spine. I describe it from a drawing made by Mr. Audubon. It is also the 1 ith genus of my Prodromus. 19th Species. Ohio Red-eye. Aplocentrus calliops. Aplocentre belaeuil. Pale greenish above, with some flexuose transver- sal black lines, yellowish beneath the lateral line, and with some small black lines, whitish and un- spotted beneath : iris red: forehead flexuose convex: upper jaw hardly longer: dorsal spine longer: tail flabelliform : lateral line straight. A beautiful fish from eight to twelve inches long. It lives in the lower parts of the Ohio, in Green river, &c. Vulgar names Red-eyes, Bride pearch, Batchelor’s pearch, Green bass, &c. Breadth about one fourth of the length. Dorsal fin beginning be- hind the head with a long spiny ray and ending close to the tail, variegated with flexuose black lines: broad at the base, depressed near the tail, and sud- denly broad again at the end. Anal fin small. Thoracic fin triangular. Lateral line rather broad. Iris large and red. Tail unspotted, and with rounded tip or fan-shaped. 84 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS VIII Genus. Barbot. Pogostoma. Barbotte. Body oval, compressed. Head small, jaws equal, without teeth, but with lips and six barbs, two to each lip and two to the lower jaw: opercule smooth, rounded. Two distant dorsal fins. A fine genus next to Dipterodon and Cheilodipteriis-, it be- [II. 55] [J5] longs to the family of Labrides, and is distinguished from all the other genera by its barbs. The real name means bearded mouth. It was the 10th genus of my prod, of 70 new genera. 20th species. White-eyes Barbot. Pogostoma leucops. Barbotte oeuilblanc. Brown, with five black curved streaks, two on each side and one on the back, lateral line curved joining the lower streaks : whitish beneath ; a row of trans- versal lunulate, geminate and black lines, between the two lateral streaks, six similar ones on the gill cover: a large white and round patch surrounding the eyes : tail forked : vent posterior. A beautiful fish: shape of sunfish: length some- times twelve inches and weight one pound. It is found in the lower part of the Ohio and in the Mis- sissippi ; but is a rare fish. It has great many vulgar names, such as White-eyes, Spectacles-fish, Streaked Sunfish, Black Sunfish, Barbot, Bearded Sunfish, &c. and the French settlers call it Barbotte, Poisson lunette, and Giuil blanc. It does not bite the hook, and is only taken with the seine. The row of lunu- lated lateral lines have the convexity towards the head and extend through the tail. The two dorsal fins are short and trapezoidal, anal fins very small. Pectoral long. Thoracic under their hind part. Convexity of the three pairs of lines on the opercule, REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 85 looking upwards. Eyes small and black, iris narrow and yellow, the white patch appears as a second iris. Chin and forehead between the eyes depressed, which form a kind of rounded snout, mouth small, jaws equal. I describe it from a drawing of Mr. Audubon. IX Genus. Hogfish. Etheostoma. Etheostome. Body nearly cylindrical and scaly. Mouth variable with small teeth. Gill cover double or triple unser- rate, with a spine on the opercule and without scales: six branchial rays. Thoracic fins with six rays, one of which is spiny; no appendage. One dorsal fin more or less divided in two parts, the anterior one with entirely spiny rays. . Vent medial or rather anterior. A singular new genus, of which I have already detected five species, so different from each other that they might form as many subgenera. Yet they agree in the above characters, and differ from the genus Sciena by the shape of the body and [II. 56] [j< 5 ] mouth, and the divided dorsal fin. The name means different mouths. I divide it into two subgenera. They are all very small fishes, hardly noticed, and only employed for bait; yet they are good to eat, fried, and may often \>e taken with baskets at the falls and mill races. They feed on worms and spawn. 1st Subgenus. Aplesion. Dorsal fin single, split in the middle. Meaning nearly simple. 2 1st Species. Bass Hogfish. Etheostoma calliura. Etheostome calliure. Body slightly fusiform and compressed, silvery, 86 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS olivaceous above, some flexuose transversal brown- ish lines on the sides: lower jaw longer, preoper- cule double, opercule with an angular appendage and an obtuse spine behind it: scales smooth, lateral line flexuose: tail forked, tri-coloured, and with a brown spot at the base. The largest species of the genus from three to nine inches long. It has some similarity with the Lepomis flexuolaris, and some other River bass, where- fore it is called Minny-bass, Little bass, Hog-bass, &c. common in the Ohio, Salt river, &c. It has sharp teeth. The head is large, rugose above: iris large gilt brown : branchial rays uncovered. Diame- ter one seventh of the length. Lateral line curved upwards at its base. Fins olivaceous. Dorsal with 9 and 14 rays, beginning behind the pectorals and ending far from the tail, like the anal, which has 12 rays, whereof one is spiny. Pectoral fins short trape- zoidal 16 rays. Tail 24, fine, base with a yellow curved ring, followed by a forked band of a pale violaceous colour, tip hyalin. Mouth straight. 22d Species. Fantail Hogfish. Et he 0 stoma flab el- lata. Etheostome eventail. Body olivaceous brown, with transverse unequal brown streaks, a black spot at the lower base of the lateral line which is straight ; scales ciliated : mouth puckered obliqual, jaws nearly equal, cheeks swelled, preopercule simple, opercule curved, spine acute: pectoral fins rounded. Tail oboval flabelliform. A small fish only two or three inches long, common at the falls of Ohio. Vulgar names Fan-tail, Black- bass, Pucker, &c. [II. 57] [j7] Head small, with swelled and dotted cheeks: iris brown with an inter- nal gold ring ; branchial rays concealed. Scales small REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 87 roughened. Dorsal fin beginning above the pecto- rals and ending beyond the anal, with 8 short spiny rays and 12 soft ones, olivaceous, with a longitudinal brown stripe. Vent anterior: anal fin very far from the tail, convex pale, rays 1 and 8. Pectoral fins 15. Caudal 20, olivaceous with many small trans- versal and flexuose lines. Diameter less than one seventh of the length. [II. 169] 23d Species. Black Hogfish. Etheos- toma ?iigra. Etheostome noire. Entirely black, pale beneath ; scales smooth, lateral line streight, mouth rather beneath, forehead rounded, upper jaw longer; preopercule rounded, spine acute: vent rather anterior: tail entire nearly truncate. From one to two inches long. Observed in Green river. Vulgar name, Black minny. Iris black, sil- very, and small. Diameter one seventh of the length, without spots. Head small. Pectoral fins oboval. Tail 20. Anal fin 2 and 8. Dorsal 10 and 12. 2d Subgenus. Diplesion. Dorsal fin nearly double, divided into two joining parts. Meaning nearly double. 24th Species. Blunt nose Hogfish. Etheostoma Blennioides. Etheostome blennioide. Body elongate, breadth one eighth of the length, olivaceous almost diapianous, some brown spots on the back, and some brown geminate transversal lines across the lateral line, which is straight, but raised at the base. Head small, snout rounded, mouth small beneath, lower jaw shorter; opercule angular, spine acute; scales ciliated, pectoral fins elongate, tail also, and bilobed at the end. A strange species, which has the appearance, head, 88 ICHTHYOLOGIA 0H1ENSIS and spots of many Blennies. Length two or three inches, and slender. Seen in the Ohio, Wabash, Muskingum, &c. Colour pale, sometimes fulvous, whitish beneath. Cheeks swelled and smooth, pre- opercule simple arched, opercule quite angular: iris large and blackish : scales roughened by the ciliation. Dorsal fin 13 and 13, beginning above the middle of the pectorals and ending with the anal, one faint longitudinal brown stripe on [j] 31st Species. Spring False Her- ring. Hyodon vernalis. Hyodon printanier. Diameter one fourth of total length, body entirely silvery, back with bluish shades : lateral line straight, tail equally forked, sinus obtuse. Dorsal fin with 13 rays, the anal with 28 rays, falcated and with acute ends. Length from ten to twelve inches; head small and narrow, nostrils very large, eyes above the corner of the mouth, black and somewhat elliptical verti- cally, iris round, silvery with gilt shades. Fins slightly olivaceous, the dorsal with 3 simple rays, the first very short, anal fin somewhat adipose ante- riorly. Pectoral fins with 12 rays, hardly reaching the abdominal fins. Tail with 30 rays, somewhat marginated with brown. Branchial membrane with 7 rays. This fish begins to appear all over the Ohio and even at Pittsburgh in April: it is very common ; but a poor food, owing to its great num- ber of small bones. It is sometimes smoked and cured as the Atlantic Herrings ; but is not quite so good. 96 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS 3d Subgenus. Clodalus. Body oblong irregular or somewhat rhomboidal. Jaws nearly equal, the lower one somewhat longer and with small teeth. Dorsal fin beginning before the base of the anal fin. 32d Species. May false Herring. Hyodon clo- dalus. Hyodon de May. H. Clodalus. Lesueur Jour. Ac. N. Sc. 1. p. 377. Diameter one fourth of total length, body silvery, back bluish, lateral line nearly straight, tail equally forked, sinus obtuse. Dorsal fin with 15 rays, the anal with 30, not falcated, ends acute. Length eleven inches, fins yellow with metallic colours on the rays, pectbral with 13 rays not reach- ing the abdominal, caudal with 20 rays. It comes as far as Pittsburgh in May. Its flesh is pretty good. Eyes elliptical vertically, brown. Iris golden. 33d Species. Lake False Herring. Hyodon clodalus. '•Hyodon lacustre. H.tergisus. Lesueur Journ. Ac. N. Sc. 1. p. 336, tab. 14. Diameter one fourth of total length, body silvery, back blu- [II. 176] [yy] ish, gill covers golden: lateral line somewhat flexuose or somewhat arched towards the back: tail equally forked, sinus obtuse. Dorsal fin with 15 rays, anal with 32, falcated, rounded anteriorly, acute behind. This fish was observed by Mr. Lesueur in Lake Erie. Mr. Say thinks he has seen it at Pittsburgh ; but I have never observed it in the Ohio, and I suspect that Mr. Say may have mistaken the Hyodon vernalis for this species : in fact all the species are blended by the fishermen and considered as alike ; I REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 97 therefore introduce it among the fishes of the Ohio with some doubt. It has the same eyes and colours as the foregoing. Length thirteen inches. Good food. See Mr. Lesueur’s minute description. XIV Genus. Trout. Salmo. Truite. Body somewhat cylindrical scaly, vent posterior. Gill cover double, scaleless, more than four rays at the branchial membrane. Mouth large, jaws with strong teeth. Two dorsal fins, the first anterior or opposed to the abdominal fins which have a scaly appendage, the second adipose and opposed to the anal fin. This Linnean genus which includes the Trouts and Salmono is confined to the head waters and brooks of the Ohio. 1 only know two species as yet ; but there may be more in the small streams of Ohio, the Cum- berland and Clinch mountains, &c. The white fish of Lake Erie, Coregonus albns of Lesueur, (or Salmo clupeformis of Dr. Mitchell,) a fish which differs from the Trouts by being toothless, and is therefore a real Coregonus, is said to be found in some streams of Indi- ana, at the head of the Wabash and Miami; but I have no certain proof of it. Other Trouts have been seen in the Osage river and other streams putting into the Missouri and Mississippi. 34th Species. Alleghany Trout. Salmo Alle- ganiensis. Truite alleganienne. Back brownish, sides pale with crowded round ful- vous spots, and some scattered scarlet dots above and beneath the lateral line, which is nearly straight : lower jaw hardly longer, tail reddish nearly lunu- late, dorsal fin quadrangular with brown stripes, [II. 177] [45] and ten rays: anal fin lanceolate whitish, 98 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS with a longitudinal line black anteriorly and red poste- riorly. It is found in the brooks of the Alleghany moun- tains falling into the Alleghany and Monongahela. It has the manner of the small Brook-trouts, and is called Mountain-trout, Creek-trout, &c. It is easily caught with the hook, baited with earth-worms, and they may be easily enticed by rubbing the bait and hook with asafoetida like many other fishes. They afford a very good food. Length about 8 inches. Head olivaceous with violet shades. Iris brown. Dorsal fin rufous with brown lines parallel with the back. Pectoral fins oval, not reaching the base of the dorsal nor abdominal fins, redish below, whitish above, with a brown line. Abdominal fins with nine rays and similar to the pectoral fins in colour, scaly appendage very small. Tail with brown shades. Adipose fin acute. Diameter of the body one sixth of the total length. I have seen some individuals (they may be the female or a variety) who were of a paler colour, with fewer and smaller scarlet dots; they had the yellowish spots more crowded, the fins darker and the tail pale. [II. 235] 35th Species. Black Trout. Salmo nigrescens. Truite noiratre. Body blackish brown, with some small spots, head black; lateral line straight: lower jaw hardly longer; fins and tail black, tail slightly forked. Dorsal fin with 10 rays, anal fin with 15 rays. A very rare species, seen only once, near the Lau- rel hills; it is said to be found also in the Yoho- gheny, a branch of the Monongahela. Length six inches, diameter one fifth of total length. Iris black and gilt. Slightly pale under the body. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 99 XV. Genus. Minny. Minnilus. Minny. Body elongated, somewhat compressed, covered with small scales. Vent medial. Head flat above, and somewhat shielded. Gill cover double, scale- less, three branchial rays. Mouth diagonal, small, toothless and beardless, without lips, lower jaw shorter and narrower. A small trapezoidal dorsal fin, nearer to the head than to the tail, opposite to the abdominal fins, and without spines. Abdominal fins with eight rays and without appendages. (Tail forked in all the Ohio species.) [^d] There are in the United States more than fifty species of small fresh water fishes, (and in the Ohio waters more than sixteen species) commonly called Minnies, Minnews, Bait-fish, Chubs, and Shiners, which should belong to the genus Cyprimis of Lin- neus, or rather to the part of it which has been called Leuciscus by Klein and Cuvier; which subgenus (or genus) is distinguished by a small dorsal fin, no spines nor beards; but as the genus Cyprinus forms now a large family, and that even the genus Leuciscus must be divided, since it contains more than one hundred anomalous species, differing in the position of the dorsal fin and the vent, the number of rays to the abdominal fins, &c., I venture to propose this and the three following genera. Three other different genera might be es- [II. 236] tablished upon the European species, distinguished as follow: Dobula. Dorsal fin nearer to the tail, abdominal fins with nine rays and an appendage: upper jaw longer. Phoxinus. Differs by ten abdominal rays and no appendage. 100 ICHTHYOLOG1A OHIENSIS Alburnns. Differs from Dobula by no appendage and the lower jaw longer. Besides my genus Hemiplus, (Annals of nature,) which has the vent posterior, the lower jaw longer, only five rays and an appendage to the abdominal fins. All these small fish are permanent; they feed on worms, insects, univalve shells, and spawn; they bite at a small hook, baited with worms or flies, and they form an excellent bait for all the larger fish which feed upon them. They are good to eat when fried. 36th Species. Slender Minny. Minulus dinemus. Minny emeraude. Diameter one eighth of total length, silvery, back olivaceous with a brown longitudinal stripe in the middle : two lateral lines, one straight, the lower curved downwards and shorter : head gilt and green above. Dorsal fin 9 rays. Anal fin 12 rays. A small and slender species, common in the Ohio, &c. and going in flocks; length two or three inches. Its head is beautiful when alive : it is above of a fine gold colour with green shades, becoming of an eme- rald green above the eyes. Iris silvery: sides opaque, upper lateral line gold-green. Nostrils [47] large. Pectoral fins with 12 rays, not reaching the abdominal. All the fins silvery. Tail with 24 rays. Scales very small. 37th Species. Spotted Minny. Minnilus notatus. Minny tache. Diameter one seventh of total length, silvery, back olivaceous with a large brown stripe in the middle ; head brown above, lateral line straight, a black spot at the base of the tail. Dorsal with 8, and anal with 9 rays. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 101 Same size with the preceding-, but not so slender and less common. Iris golden, nostrils very large, mouth small, lateral line shining blue on the opaque sides. Pectoral fins with 12 rays and not reaching the abdomen. Tail with 14 rays. It is often called Minny-chub. [II. 237] 38th Species. Littlemouthed minny. Minnilus microstomus. Minny microstome. Diameter one seventh of total length, silvery, olivaceous on the back and head, sides with a few black dots : lateral line straight, pectoral fins reach- ing the abdominal fins. Dorsal and anal fins with eight rays. A small species found in the Kentucky river. Mouth very small, nostrils large, iris silvery, fins fulvous, the pectoral with 12, and the caudal with 24 rays. Head elongated. XVI Genus. Shiner. Luxilus. Luxile. Difference from M innidus. Vent posterior or nearer to the tail. Mouth rather large, commonly with lips and equal jaws. Scales rather large. Preopercule with an angular suture. 1st Subgenus. Chrosomus. Mouth large, without lips, lower jaw much shorter.- Scales rough. Opercule flexuose. 39th Species. Redbelly Shiner. Luxilus ery- throgaster. Luxile erythrogastre. Diameter one sixth of total length: back oliva- ceous brown, sides pale with two brown stripes, the upper reaching from the gills fto the tail, and the lower from the nose to the anal fin ; belly white with longitudinal red stripes from the pectoral fin to the 102 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS tail : lateral line curved downwards and only anterior. Dorsal and anal fins elongated. Dorsal 8, and anal 7 rays. A very distinct and insulated species, intermediate between [4.8] this and the foregoing genus. It might probably form a peculiar genus and be called Chro- somus erythrogaster or Kentucky Red belly. I saw it in the Kentucky river. Length from four to six inches. Tail forked as in all this family, and yellow as well as the dorsal fin, and with twenty rays. All the other fins are whitish. Head yellow above, sil- very beneath, iris golden, the brown stripe goes across the eyes. Pectoral fins trapezoidal, with 12 rays, not reaching the abdominal fins. Lateral line reaching no farther than the dorsal fin. Anal fin narrow. It is called Red belly Chub. 2d Subgenus. Luxilus. Mouth rather large, with small flat lips, jaws equal, scales large. [II. 238] 40th Species. Goldhead Shiner. Luxi- lus chrysocephalus. Luxile chrysocephale. Diameter one fifth of total length, silvery with golden shades on the sides, head gilt, back and nape dark olivaceous ; lateral line curved downwards, pec- toral fins reaching the abdominal. Dorsal and anal fins with nine rays. Vulgar names, Gold Chub, Shiner, Goldhead, &c. Length six inches. It is found in the Kentucky, Ohio, Cumberland, Green river, &c. Iris golden. Fins fulvous, the pectoral golden large with 14 rays: tail with 24. It resembles the common Shiner or Butterfish of Pennsylvania, Cyprinus chrysoleucos Mitchell ; but that fish is a Rutilus, having nine REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 103 abdominal rays, its body is besides shorter and the anal fin is falcated with 15 rays. 41st Species. Kentuckian Shiner. Luxilus Ken- tuckiensis. Luxile du Kentuky. Diameter one seventh of total length, silvery, back olivaceous, lateral line curved downwards, dorsal and caudal fins red, the pectoral yellow, not reaching the abdomen. Dorsal 8, and anal 7 rays. Vulgar names, Indian Chub, Red tail, Shiner, &c. Length about four inches. It is reckoned an excellent bait for anglers, because it will swim a long while with the hook in its body. Eyes small, iris brown with a gold ring. Yellowish brown a- [49] bove the head. Abdominal and anal fins white. Pectoral and abdom- inal fins oboval, with 12 rays. Tail with 24 rays. 42d Species. Yellow Shiner. Luxilus interrup- tus. Luxile jaunatre. Diameter one sixth of total length : yellowish olivaceous above, silvery beneath, rufous brown above the head, a rufous line from the dorsal to the tail, two straight and separated half lateral lines, the ante- rior one above the posterior: pectoral fins reaching the abdominal. Dorsal with 10 and anal with 9 rays. A small species, only three inches long, called Yellow Chub or Shiner. Seen in the Ohio. Sides opaque, with violet shades. Iris silvery, mouth large, lips very apparent. Fins yellowish, pectorals with 16 rays, caudals with 24. [II. 239] XVII Genus. Chubby. Semotilus. Semotile. Difference from Minnilus. Vent posterior or nearer to the tail. Dorsal fin posterior, opposite to the vent and behind the abdominal fins. Mouth large and with lips. Scales rather large. Preopercule angular^ 104 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS 43d Species. Bigback Chubby. Semotilus dorsalis. Semotile dorsal. Diameter one fifth of total length: silvery, back olivaceous with some black dots, and raised; head brown above, a crenulated keel above each eye : lat- eral line upwards at the base: tail brown, with a black spot at the base and another before it. Dorsal fin with 8 rays and a large brown spot at the anterior base. Anal fin with 9 rays. It is found in the Kentucky, and several other riv- ers. Vulgar names, Big-back Minny or Chub, Skim- back, &c. Length from three to six inches. Iris gilt brown. Fins olivaceous, pectoral fins with 12 rays, trapezoidal not reaching the abdominal. Tail with 24 rays, end pale, base with a round black dot, and a smaller one before it on the body, when the lateral line terminates. Head separated from the back by a suture connected with the opercule, back large convex higher. 44th Species. Bighead Chubby. Senotilus cepha- lus. Senotile cephale. Diameter one fifth of the total length: silvery, back brownish, lateral line raised upwards at the base; fins fulvous, the pecto- [50] ral reddish, the caudal pale at the end and unspotted, the dorsal with nine rays and a large black spot at the anterior base, anal with nine rays. Length from six to eight inches, not uncommon in the creeks of Kentucky, &c. Vulgar names Chub, Big-mouth, and Big-head. It has really the largest head and mouth of this tribe. Iris redish iridescent. Pectoral fins with 15 rays trapezoidal and short, abdominal fins rounded, dorsal fin beginning over them, spot round. Tail with 20 rays. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 105 45th Species. Warty Chubby. Semotilus diplemia. Semotile verruqueux. Diameter one sixth of total length : olivaceous brown with gold shades above, silvery beneath : lat- eral line double, the an- [II. 240] terior and lower curved upwards at the base, reaching to the abdomi- nal fins, the posterior and upper straight from the pectoral fins to the tail : fins red, a spot at the base of the dorsal and caudal, and many dots over them. Dorsal with nine rays; the anal with eight. Length from three to four inches, often called Minny or Red-fin. Observed in the Kentucky river near Estill. The male fish has a larger mouth than the female and some black warts on the head. Ful- vous brown on the head. Iris large, golden, and white. Some black dots on the dorsal and caudal fins: the caudal spot is on the tail, and the dorsal at the anterior base; they are small and round. The pectoral fins do not , reach the abdominal fins; they have 18 rays: the tail has 24. XVIII Genus. Fallfish. Rutilus. Rutile. Difference from Minnilus. Vent posterior nearer to the tail. Abdominal fins with nine rays. Mouth large and with lips. Scales large. I call this genus Rutilus , in the supposition that Cyprinus rutilus may be the type of it ; if it should be otherwise, it may be called Plargyriis. 46th Species. Silverside Fallfish. Rutilus plar gyrus. Rutile plargyre. Diameter one fifth of total length : silvery, back with the dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins olivaceous: lateral line curved [5/] downwards : snout truncate, 106 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS mouth almost vertical. Dorsal and anal fins with nine rays. Length from four to six inches: vuglar names, Silverside, Shiner, White Chub, &c. Common in the streams of Kentucky. Mouth large, upper jaw almost vertical, yet longer than the lower. Iris white. Pectoral fins with 14 rays, reaching almost the abdominals, which are oboval and white. Tail forked as usual with 24 rays. Scales large. 47th Species. Baiting Fallfish. Rutilus com- pressus. Rutile appat. Diameter one seventh of total length : silvery, back fulvous, sides compressed, lateral line straight, raised upwards at the base, snout rounded, mouth hardly diagonal, nearly horizontal. Dorsal and anal fins with nine rays. [II. 241] A small fish from two to four inches long, called Fall-fish Bait-fish, Minny, &c. It is found in the Alleghany Mountains in the waters of the Monongahela, Kenhaway, and even in the Potomac. The name of Fall-fish arises from its being often found near falls and ripples. Body more compressed than in the other species, as much so as in the genus Minnilus. Scales large, lips a little fleshy. Iris sil- very gilt. Fins transparent, the pectoral with 14 rays and not reaching the abdominal, tail with 32 rays. 48th Species. Roundnose Fallfish. Rutilus Am- blops. Rutile amblopse. Diameter one sixth of total length : silvery, head fulvous above, snout round: sides with an opaque band, lateral line straight: pectoral fins with 12 rays and reaching the abdominal fins. Dorsal and anal fins with 10 rays. Length one or two inches. Vulgar name White REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 107 Chub or Fall-fish. It is found at the falls of the Ohio. Back slightly fulvescent, snout large and rounded, mouth hardly diagonal, eyes large, iris sil- very, and scales large. Tail with 30 rays. 49th Species. Blacktail Fallfish. Rutilus mela- nuras. Rutile melanure. Diameter one sixth of total length : silvery, back brownish: snout rounded, lateral line straight, tail blackish. Dorsal fin with 15 rays, anal with 12. [5a] Length from four to six inches. Vulgar name Blacktail Chub. In the Ohio and Muskingum, &c. Head dark brown above, Mouth diagonal, iris silvery. Scales pretty large. Fins brownish, the lower ones pale, the pectoral short with 12 rays. Tail with 20 rays. 50th Species. Anomal Fallfish. Rutilus anoma- lous. Rutile anomal. Diameter one fifth of total length, fulvous above, sides dusky, white beneath : snout rounded, a verti- cal brown line behind the gills ; lateral line straight raised upwards at the base : pectoral fins yellow ob- oval short with 1 5 rays : tail unequally bilobed, the upper lobe larger. Dorsal and anal fins red, dorsal 8 and anal 7 rays. An anomalous fish, differing from all those of the Cyprinian [II. 242] tribe in the Ohio, by its unequal bilobed tail, which is brownish and has 22 rays. Mouth diagonal. Eyes small, iris olivaceous gilt. Nape of the neck red, scales rather small. Length three inches. Found in Licking river &c. Vulgar names Chub, Redfish, Fallfish, &c. 51st Species. Red Minny. Rutilus ruber. Rutile rouge. Entirely red, tail forked. 108 ICHTH YOLOGIA OHIENSIS I add here a fine small fish, which I have never seen as yet, but is said to live in the small streams which fall into the Elkhorn and Kentucky. It is a slender fish, only two inches long, compressed and of a fine purple red. It may belong to this genus, or to any other of this tribe. It is commonly called Red-minny. XIX Genus. Flat-head. Pimephales. Pimephale. Body oblong, thick, and scaly. Vent posterior nearer to the tail. Head scaleless, fleshy all over, even over the gill covers, rounded, convex above and short. Mouth terminal small, toothless, with hard cartilagineous lips. Opercule double, three branchial rays. Nostrils simple. Dorsal fin opposite the ab- dominals, with the first ray simple and cartilaginous. Abdominal fins with eight rays. A singular new genus, which differs from Catasto- mus by the terminal mouth, hard lips, soft head, simple dorsal ray, &c. The name is abbreviated from Pimelecephales which means Flat-head. [II. 299] [yj] 53d Species. Blackheaded Flat- head. Pimephales promelas. Pimephale tete-noire. Diameter one fourth of the length, body oliva- ceous silvery, head blackish, snout truncated, and with soft warts: fins whitish, dorsal with a large irregular black spot at the anterior base, with eight forked rays, and one simple shorter obtuse hard: anal with eight rays ; lateral line flexuose and raised at the base, tail lunulate. A small fish three inches long. It is rare and hardly known by the anglers. I describe it from a specimen taken with a hook baited with earth-worm, by Mr. William M. Clifford, in a pond near Lexing- REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 109 ton, in the month of April 1820, and now preserved in the Museum in Lexington. Its head is very- remarkable, soft and fat all over, the snout sloping, broad, truncate with soft warts in front, mouth at its inferior extremity very small, elliptical transversal, with equal circular hard lips. The whole head and even the eyes are of dusky and bluish black colour. Pectoral fins trapezoidal with 1 5 rays, the upper rays of the colour of the head. Tail olivaceous lunu- lated, with 20 forked rays and 5 short simple rays on each side of the base. Abdominal fins quadrangu- lar. The first ray of the dorsal is singular, thick, short, hard, and yet blunt, almost cartilaginous, or not properly spinous, and not at all serrate as in the Carps. Scales pretty large. XX Genus. Sucker. Catostomus. Catostome. Body oblong cylindrical scaly. Vent posterior or nearer to the tail. Head and opercules scaleless and smooth. Mouth beneath the snout, with fleshy, thick, or lobed sucking lips. Jaws toothless and retractible. Throat with pectinated teeth. Nostrils double. Gill-cover double or triple. Three bran- chial rays to the gill membrane. A single dorsal fin commonly opposite to the abdominal fins, which have from eight to ten rays. [II. 300] Lesueur has established this genus, in the first volume of the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with all the Ameri- can species of the genus Cyprinus which have the above characters, and he has described eighteen species belonging to it. I have discovered twelve additional new species in the waters of the Ohio, where about sixteen new spe- [yy] cies have already 110 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS been detected. This genus having become so ex- tensive at an early period, and many other species existing probably in North America and Siberia, I have therefore divided it into five subgenera, employ- ing principally the number of abdominal rays. All these fishes are permanent in the Ohio its branches and the ponds. Some however disappear in winter, retreating into deep water or into the mud. Many bite at the hook. They feed on univalve shells, small fishes and spawn. They offer a tolerable food. ist. Subgenus. Moxostoma. Body oblong, compressed ; head compressed, eight abdominal rays, dorsal fin commonly longitudinal, tail commonly unequally forked. 53d Species. Ohio Carp Sucker. Catostomus anisurus. Catostome anisure. Diameter one fifth of the length : silvery, slightly fulvescent above, fins red, the dorsal olivaceous fal- cated with 17 rays, nearer to the head and reaching the vent: lateral line curved upwards and flexuose at the base.- snout gibbose: tail forked, upper part longer. Anal fin falcate with eight rays. A large species common all over the Ohio and the large streams, as far as Pittsburgh. Permanent and sometimes taken in winter. It is called Carp every where. Length from one to three feet. It is taken with the hook, seine, and dart. Its flesh is pretty good, but soft. The male fish has a red tail ; while it is olivaceous in the female. Snout divided from the head by a transverse hollow which makes it gib- bose. Eyes black, iris silvery and golden above. Sides often with copper shades. Scales large with concentric stria. Pectoral fins large oval acute with REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 111 15 rays and reaching the abdominal fins. Caudal with 24 rays. [II. 299 i.e., 301] 54th Species. Buffalo Carp Sucker. Cotostomus anisopturus. Catostome anisop- ture. Diameter one fourth of the total length : silvery : head sloping, lateral line curved as the back : tail unequally bifid, upper part much longer : dorsal fin longitudinal, beginning above the pectorals and reaching the end of the anal, sinuated by a double falcation, first ray very long. [55] A singular species which I have never seen. I describe it from a drawing of Mr. Audubon. It is found in the lower part of the Ohio, and is called Buffalo Carp, Buffalo perch, Buffalo Sucker, White Buffalo-fish, &c. Length about one foot. Very good to eat. Taken with the seine in the spring only. Body broad, dorsal fin broad and large, remarkable by its shape like a double sickle, and first ray which reaches the tail. Anal fin small and falcate. Pecto- ral fins reaching the abdominal fins. The number of abdominal rays was not observed, if it should have nine it would be nearer to C. Velifer and C. setosus, or it may form a peculiar subgenus. The C. tuberculatus of Lesueur belongs also to this subgenus, having eight abdominal rays ; but its tail is regularly bifid. 2d Subgenus. Ictiorus. Body nearly cylindrical. Dorsal fin elongated, abdominal fins with nine rays, tail bilobed, com- monly equal. The C. gibbosus and C. Communis , of Lesueur, appear to be intermediate between this subgenus and 112 ICHTHYOL OGIA OHIENSIS the foregoing, having nine abdominal rays, but an unequal bilobed tail. 55th Species. Brown Buffalo-fish. Catostomus bubalus. Catostome bubale. Diameter one fifth of the total length ; olivaceous brown, pale beneath, fins blackish, pectoral fins brown and short: head sloping, snout rounded, cheeks whitish : lateral line straight, dorsal fin nar- row with 28 equal rays, anal trapezoidal with 12 rays. One of the finest fishes of the Ohio, common also in the Mississippi, Missouri, and their tributary streams. It is called every where Buffalo-fish, and Piconeau, by the French settlers of Louisiana. I had called it Amblodon bubalus in my 70 N. G. of American Animals, having been misled by the com- mon mistake which ascribed to it the teeth of the Amblodon grunni- [II. 400, i.e., 302] ens; but it is a real Catostomus , without any such teeth. Length from two to three feet; some have been taken weighing thirty pounds and upwards. It is commonly taken with the dart at night when asleep, or in the seine; it does not readily bite at the hook. It feeds on smaller fishes and shells, and often goes in shoals. It retires into deep water in the winter, yet is some- times taken even then. It comes as far as Pittsburgh. Its flesh [y< 5 ] is pretty good but soft. Scales rather large. Tail with 24 rays and two equal rounded lobes. Iris gilt brown, eyes small. Pectoral fins with 16 rays. Dorsal fins shallow and even begin- ning just before the abdominal fins, and ending at the base of the anal fin. 56th Species. Black Buffalo-fish. Catostomus niger. Catostome noir. Entirely black, lateral line straight. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 113 I have not seen this fish. Mr. Audubon describes it as a peculiar species, found in the Mississippi and the lower part of the Ohio, being entirely similar to the common Buffalo-fish, but larger, weighing some- times upwards of fifty pounds, and living in separate shoals. 3d Subgenus. Carpiodes. Body oblong, somewhat compressed; head com- pressed, nine abdominal rays, dorsal fin commonly elongate, tail equally forked. The C. cyprinus and C. setosus, of Lesueur, belong to this Subgenus. 57th Species. Olive Carp Sucker. Catostomus carpio. Catostome carpe. Diameter one fourth of the length: olivaceous above, pale beneath, chin white, abdomen bluish : lateral line straight, dorsal fin somewhat falcated with 36 rays, anal trapezoidal with 10 rays; head sloping, snout rounded. Seen at the falls of the Ohio, commonly called Carp. Length from one to two feet. Eyes very small and black, fins olivaceous brown, the pectorals olivaceous, trapezoidal short and with 16 rays. Tail with 24. Dorsal fin beginning before the abdominal and reaching the end of the anal fin. Not so good to eat as the Buffalo-fish. [II. 301 i.e., 303] 58th Species. Sailing Sucker. Catostomus velifer. Catostome volant. Diameter less than one fourth of the length: body elliptical, silvery with golden shades, lateral line flexuose, dorsal fin very broad falcated with 25 rays, the first ones very long, anal fin trapezoidal lunulate with 10 rays: head sloping, snout rounded. 114 ICHTHYOLOGIA OH I EN SIS Catostomous anonymous Lesueur in Journ. Ac. Nat. Sc. of Philadelphia, Vol. i, page no. [57] A singular fish, not very common, yet found as far as Pittsburgh. It has received the vulgar names of Sailor fish, Flying fish, and Skimback, because, when it swims, its large dorsal fin appears like a sail, and it often jumps or flies over the water for a short distance. Length commonly from twelve to sixteen inches, of which the tail, which is very large, includes one fourth, and has 24 rays. Back slightly oliva- ceous, scales very large. Fins olivaceous brown, except the abdominal and pectoral, which are white. The dorsal beginning before the abdominal and reach- ing the end of the anal, the second and third rays are one third of the whole body, the first is short and cleaving to the second; mouth small, quite ter- minal at the lower end of the rounded snout; head small, convex above. Pectoral fins with 16 rays. Not very good to eat. Seen only in summer. 59th Species. Mud Sucker. Catostomus xanthopus. Catostome xanthope. Diameter one fourth of the length : lateral line straight: silvery, back olivaceous, head brown above, snout gibbose rounded : dorsal fin hardly falcate with 14 rays, anal lanceolate with 8 rays: lower fins yellowish. ( Found below the falls. Length from six to ten inches. It lives in muddy banks, and conceals itself in the mud. Flesh very soft. Head large, flattened above, mouth large, eyes large. Iris silvery. Lat- eral line hardly raised at the base. Dorsal fin above the abdominal, fins olivaceous as well as the tail, which has 20 rays. Pectorals with 18 rays. Scales large. REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 115 4th Subgenus. Teretulus. Body elongate cylindrical or somewhat quadrangu- lar, nine abdominal rays, dorsal fins commonly small, tail equally forked. An extensive Subgenus to which belong all the following [II. 302 i.e., 304] species of Lesueur: C. aureolus , C. macrolepidotus , C. longirostrum. , C. nigri- cans , , C. vittatns, C. maculosus, C. Sucetta, besides the C. teres and C. oblongus of Mitchell. 60th Species, Black-face Sucker. Cotostomus melanops. Catostome melanopse. Diameter one seventh of the length : head squared, blackish above, snout convex obtuse; back oliva- ceous, sides whitish with scattered black dots, a black spot on the gill cover, and a [j