Mr. Lesueur has published, in the 5th Number of the Journal of
the Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia, for September, 1817, the
description of a new fish, which he calls _Cyprinus maxillingua_:
he considers it as a very singular and anomalous species, owing to
the peculiar structure of its lobed lower jaw and tongue, which
is external, and situated as an appendage to the former. It was
discovered in Pipe-creek, Maryland, in June, 1816, by said author,
who confesses that he does not consider it as properly belonging to
the genus _Cyprinus_, and presumes that when other species shall
be discovered, possessing the same character, they will constitute
a separate genus. Although this principle and presumption is
correct, it was wrong to delay the formation of such a distinct
genus, because only a species was then known, since so many genera
are composed of single species. However, Mr. Lesueur's expectation
was verified even before he wrote it, since in May, 1817, I had
discovered in the Fishkill, State of New-York, another, species,
evidently congenerous with the _Cyprinus maxillingua_, having the
same structure of the mouth, &c. I therefore venture to establish
a separate genus for those two species, having no doubt that many
more will hereafter be added to it by accurate observers, and I
give to it the name of _Exoglossum_, meaning _outside tongue_.
It will belong to the same natural order and family of the genera
_Cyprinus_, _Catostomus_, &c.
EXOGLOSSUM. _Generic Definition._--Body oblong, thick, and scaly;
head without scales, mouth without lips or teeth, upper jaw longer,
entire; the lower trilobed, middle lobe longer, performing the
office of tongue; dorsal fin opposite to the abdominal fins; three
rays to the branchial membrane.
_Remarks._ Besides the above characters, the two species known at
present have, in common, the lateral line ascending upwards at the
base, the tail forked, &c.
1. Species. _Exoglossum vittatum_, Raf. _Cyprinus maxillingua_,
Lesueur. _Specific Definition._--Back brownish olive; sides blue,
with a brownish band; a black spot at the base of the caudal fin,
lower parts silvery gray; lateral line ascending upwards at the
base; dorsal and anal fins with nine rays; tail forked.
_Remarks._ Length four inches; vulgar name _little sucker_. For
further particulars, see Lesueur's description, p. 85. cum. ic. I
have been obliged to change the specific name of _maxillingua_,
since it has the same meaning as the generic name.
2. Species. _Exoglossum annulatum_, Raf. Head black above, cheeks
and gills olivaceous, back blackish olive, sides olivaceous, lower
parts olive gray; a black ring at the base of the tail; lateral
line ascending upwards at the base, tail forked, dorsal and anal
fins with nine rays.
_Remarks._ Length from three to six inches; vulgar name, _Black
chub_. Head broad and flat above, iris large and gray; fins
olivaceous, abdominal distant and with nine rays, pectoral with
fifteen, caudal with twenty-four.
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