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660 COPEIA, 1989, NO.3 trait. Sokal and Rohlf (1980) extrapolated fur- ther by stating that the trait was, in fact, irre- spective of variables such as age, sex, race, ex- perience, or even field of specialization. Individuals untrained in the complexities of taxonomic evaluation (to include children) did as well in phenetically grouping Caminalcules as did trained systematists. Does this mean that Rafinesque (1820) erred in the introductory pronouncement, which ex- tolled "seeing well" as "a high faculty of the mind"? We argue to the contrary. The "art of seeing well" (sensu Rafinesque) requires not necessarily a "high faculty of the mind," but instead innately human traits like perseverence and discipline. All humans apparently have the capability to group organisms and objects using shape and size parameters, but many would elect not to do so based upon a personal lack of per- severence and diligence required by such tasks. These factors may be critical in promoting the trained eye of a systematist. Results of our investigations impinge heavily on the complex program to preserve and man- age endangered fishes in the Colorado River (USFWS, 1987c), a program that involves state, federal, private, and academic groups. Deep, emotionally-charged issues which sustain and occasionally divide these groups range from water-rights acquisition to field identification of species. With regard to the last issue, our results indicate that qualitative features of certain phe- notypic regions are adequate to distinguish at least two different species, G. robusta and the endangered G. cypha, occurring syntopically in the Yampa River. Our investigation unequiv- ocally demonstrates that this relatively undis- turbed reach of stream is important habitat for G. 0pha. Efforts in 1987 produced 8.9% G. cypha (32 of 358 total specimens of Gila collected), in a variety of sizes and of both sexes in repro- ductive condition. Unfortunately, no G. elegans was collected, so the use of qualitative charac- ters could not be tested on a multi-species group, nor are we able to comment on status of bony tail in the study area other than to further attest to its rarity. Identification of G. cypha and its absolute and relative abundance serve to demonstrate that the lower Yampa River represents a relatively pristine example of what was once the entire Colorado River basin (Fradkin, 1984). As such, it may well represent one of the last opportu- nities for the system's native fishes to survive, as also indicated by the presence of well docu- mented spawning grounds for the endangered Colorado squawfish (Pt)'chocheilus lucius) (Tyus, 1986), occurrences of razorback suckers (X)'- rauchen texanus) that are otherwise exceedingly rare in the upper Colorado basin (McAda and Wydoski, 1980; Tyus, 1987), as well as a possible refuge for the endangered bony tail (Valdez and Clemmer, 1982). Every effort should be made to retain the Yampa River as a critical refugium for G. c)'pha and other Colorado River fishes, and as an area for further study of these unique and imperiled species. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS P. Clevenger, C. Karp, P. Minckley, K. Pau- lin, L. Trinca, and C. Williams collected most of the data for this project. Their diligence and industry are to be commended. G. R. Smith provided early discussions toward development of ranking factors for this group of fishes. P. C. Marsh and G. R. Smith read and improved the paper. Funding and logistic support was pro- vided by Arizona State University, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice. Issuance of permits by the States of Col- orado and Utah, U.S. National Park Service (Dinosaur National Monument), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is gratefully acknowl- edged. LITERATURE CITED BAIRD, S. F., AND C. GIRARD. 1854. Descriptions of some new fishes from the River Zuiii. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 6(1853):368-369. BEHNKE, R.]. 1980. The impacts of habitat alter- ations on the endangered and threatened fishes of the upper Colorado River basin, p. 204-216. In: Energy development in the southwest. Vol. II. W. O. Spofford, Jr., A. L. Parker and A. V. Kneese (eds.). Resources for the Future, Research Paper R-18. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. BLACKITH, R. K, AND R. A. REYMENT. 1971. Multi- variate morphometrics. Academic Press, New York, New York. BOOKSTEIN, F. L., B. CHERNOFF, R. ELDER, ]. HUMPHRIES, G. SMITH AND R. STRAUSS. 1985. Mor- phometrics in evolutionary biology. The geometry of size and shape change, with examples from fishes. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. Spec. Pub\. 15: 1-277. COPE, E. D., AND H. C. YARROW. 1875. Report upon the collections of fishes made in portions of Nevada, Utah, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Ar- DO izona, during the years 18~ Rep. Geogr. Geo\. Explor. (Wheeler Surv.) 5:635-7( DEMARAIS, B. D. 1986. M Gila (Pisces: Cyprinidae) a Colorado River basin. Un State University, Tempe. FRADKIN, P. L. 1984. A r rado River and the We! Press, Tucson, Arizona. GIRARD, C. 1857. Resear fishes inhabiting the fresh of America, west of tht specimens in the museu stitution. Proc. Acad. Nat 213. HOLDEN, P. B. 1968. Systt Gila (Cyprinidae) of the pub\. M.S. thesis, Utah Utah. _, AND C. B. STALNAI< ies of the cyprinid genus River basin. Copeia 197 HUBBS, C. L. 1940. Speci 74:198-211. _. 1941. The relat tions to speciation in fis' posium on hydrobiolog Press, Madison, Wiscor _. 1946. An arm pre surement of angles in ~ peia 1946:79-80. _, AND K. F. LAGLU Lakes region. Un ivers' Arbor, Michigan. JOHNSON,]. E. 1987. Pr States and Canada. Am thesda, Maryland. JORDAN, D. S., AND B. fishes of North and Mi< Mus. 47(1):1-1240. _,_ANDH.\\ the fishes and fish-lik Middle America nortl of V enezuela and Colo Pt. 2, App. 10:1-670. KAEDING, L. R., B. D. B W. R. NOONAN. 1986 (Gila elegans), and ob tinct cyprinid from 1986:1021-1032. -, AND M. A. ZIM and ecology of the I Colorado and Colon yon. Trans. Amer. F MAYR, E. 1982. The I diversity, evolution, a Harvard University, McADA, C. W., AND R zorback sucker, X)'ra: