FAMILY CVPRINID^ LABEO. 195 



dorsal fin quadrate, rounded above. Pectorals placed low down, and rounded. Ventrals 

 placed under the posterior part of the dorsal. Anal fin deeply emarginate, not reaching the 

 base of the caudal fin. This latter fin semilunate when extended ; the lobes rounded, unequal. 

 Color. Deep blue on the back, with golden reflections. Four or five faint transverse bands 

 across the back. Pectorals, ventrals and anal fins reddish orange. Caudal tinged with car- 

 mine and violet. Dorsal bluish green. Abdominal scales red at their bases. 



Length, 1T0. 



Fin rays, D. 17 ; P. 16 ; V. 9 ; A. 9 ; C. 18. 



I have seen this species in the Mohawk, and have reason to believe it to be common in 

 many other fresh-water streams in this State. 



THE ROUND-BACKED CHUBSUCKER. 



Labeo esopus. 

 (Cabinet of the lyceum.) • 



Characteristics. Back elevated. Dorsal fin with twelve rays. Scales oblong. Lateral line 

 indistinct. Length ten and a half inches. 



Description. Body robust, compressed, gibbous anterior to the dorsal fin. Scales large, 

 subquadrate, longer than high ; the triangular area on the free portion with four radiating 

 lines ; the interstices between these lines with concentric wrinkles. Lateral line not obvious ; 

 a few scattering tubes irregularly disposed, being the only indications of it. Facial outline 

 sloping. Head flattened above ; no regular series of mucous pores observed on the head or 

 the gill-covers. Eyes moderate ; the upper margin of the orbits somewhat raised above the 

 plane of the head. Nostrils double, approximated, vertical ; the posterior very large ; the 

 anterior with a small valvular membrane. Snout somewhat prominent, abruptly descending. 

 Gill-covers large ; the posterior margins smooth and rounded, almost vertical. 



The dorsal fin arises midway between the snout and the base of the caudal fin ; it contains 

 eleven articulated rays, and a short rudimentary ray in front ; it is oblong, subquadrate, longer 

 than high. Pectorals with sixteen rays, obtusely pointed ; its longest ray equalling in length 

 the longest rays of the ventral or anal fin. Ventrals broad and rounded, under the middle of 

 the dorsal, with nine rays. Anal emarginate, with two simple subspinous rays in front, and 

 seven articulated rays. In the anterior portion, the third branched ray is longest ; the last 

 three rays shorter than the others ; the tips do not reach to the base of the caudal fin. Caudal 

 emarginate, scaly at the base. 



Of the color I can say nothing, as the specimen was in spirits, but it appeared to have had 

 neither spots nor bands. 



Length, 10"5; of the head, 2*4. Greatest depth, 30. 

 Fin rays, D. 12 ; P. 16 ; V. 9 ; A. 7 ; C. 19 f . 



