FISHES OF NEW YORK 153 



The long nosed dace has a moderately elongate body, with 

 short and stout caudal peduncle and a moderate sized head. The 

 greatest depth is contained four and two thirds times in the 

 total length without caudal; the least depth of the caudal 

 peduncle eight and one half times. The width of the body 

 equals the combined length of snout and eye. The length of 

 the head is one fourth of the total without caudal and three 

 times the length of the snout. The eye is placed high, one fifth 

 to one quarter as long as the head and about two thirds as long 

 as the interorbital width. The mouth is horizontal, small, 

 placed under the snout, the lower jaw the shorter, the upper lip 

 thick and provided with a small barbel at each end. The maxilla 

 reaches to below the posterior nostril. The dorsal origin is 

 above the 23d scale of the lateral line, and the ventral origin is 

 under the 20th. The dorsal base is one half, and the longest ray 

 four fifths as long as the head. The ventral reaches a little 

 beyond the vent and almost to the anal origin. The pectoral 

 reaches nearly or quite to the origin of the ventral, being longer 

 in males. The anal origin is under the 34th scale of the lateral 

 line and a little behind the end of the dorsal. The anal base 

 is one half, the longest ray three fourths as long as the head. 

 The caudal is comparatively large and well forked. The lateral 

 line drops gently downward in a short curve over the pectoral 

 and becomes median over that fin. I), ii, 7; A. ii, 6; V. 8; P. 12. 

 Scales 13-57 to 65-10; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, three of the principal row 

 hooked. Length of the specimen described (no. 8505, U. S. 

 National Museum) 3^ inches. 



In spirits the color is brown mottled with grayish; the under 

 surface of head sharply defined and pale; the fins all pale. 

 Breeding males in spring have the lips, cheeks and lower fins 

 crimson. The sides are without a black lateral band, which is 

 characteristic of the black nosed species. The general color is 

 olivaceous or dark green with the lower parts paler. The back 

 is nearly black. Some of the scales are mottled with dark and 

 olivaceous. The young have a trace of a dusky lateral band. 

 The fish reaches the length of 5 inches. 



