198 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



THE ONEIDA SUCKER. 



CATOSTOMDS ONEIDA. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Characteristics. Back gibbous, with two short subspinous rays to the dorsal fin. Head 

 smooth, with numerous mucous pores. Length 12 inches. 



Description. Body much arched on the dorsal outline, declivous in front, with a small head. 

 Scales very large, rounded, truncate and emarginate on the radical extremity ; the rounded 

 portion with radiating plaits ; the free portion with 6-8 minute diverging elevated lines ; 

 the margin with an elevated border. Seventeen scales in an oblique series from the dorsal 

 fin. Lateral line commences in the same plane with the central portion of the eye, concurrent 

 with the back, and rather above the middle of the height of the body, through a series of 

 forty-five scales. Head smooth, with a series of mucous pores across the nape, descending 

 below the upper angle of the opercle. From above this angle, another series on each side 

 advances towards the orbits, and dividing into two others, one of which passes over the orbits, 

 and disappears near the nostrils ; the other passes behind the eye, where it throws off a 

 branch, which proceeds directly under the orbits in a waved direction to near the tip of the 

 snout ; the other branch follows the margin of the prcopercle. Eyes moderate, 0'4 in dia- 

 meter. Nostrils contiguous ; the posterior largest. Mouth beneath, witli plaited lips. 



The dorsal fin above the ventrals ; its first articulated ray equal to the length of its base : 

 the two first articulated rays longest ; the last slightly longer than its antecedent. Two very 

 short subspinous rays before the first. Pectoral low down, two inches long, and with fifteen 

 rays. Ventrals robust, broad, with multifid rays. Anal placed in a sheath, with seven com- 

 plete and one accessory ray ; this fin is remarkably stout and pointed ; its longest ray the 

 third, which is equal to the length of the head. Caudal furcate, with rounded lobes, each of 

 which is equal in length to the anal. 



Color. Dark bluish brown above ; lighter on the sides ; whitish beneath. 



Length, 12-0. Head, 2"5. Greatest depth, 2-0. 

 Fin rays, D. 2.13; P. 15; V. 9 ; A. 8 ; C. 18 f. 



Common in Lake Oneida, where it is called Mullet, and Sucker. 



