208 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



has the various popular names of Red-fin, Red Dace, and Rough-head. It appears to be 

 allied to the L. pulchellus of Storer. 



THE ROACH DACE. 

 Leuciscus pulchellus. 

 Leuciscus pulchellus, The Beautiful Leuciscus. Storer, Massachusetts Report, p. 91. 



Characteristics. Brown above ; lighter on the sides. Dorsal nearly as high again as long. 

 Length fourteen inches. 



Description. Back slightly arched ; the arch on the top of the head very slight. Scales 

 large, small on the back and smaller on the throat ; transparent, rounded at the summit, trun- 

 cated at their base, exhibiting numerous striae. At the base of each scale, a fleshy dark 

 colored membrane, which, projecting as far as the apex of the preceding scales, gives the 

 appearance of indistinct oblique bands across the fish. The lateral line commences at the 

 upper angle of the branchial aperture, curves downward nine scales, and goes off straight ; it 

 is composed of fifty-nine scales. Nine above the lateral line, in an oblique line from the origin 

 of the dorsal fin, and six below. Head naked ; distance between the eyes equal to one-third 

 the length of the head. Nostrils placed higher than the eyes, and in front of them ; the posterior 

 largest, the anterior tubular. Jaws without teeth. Upper jaw juts slightly over the lower. 



The dorsal fin arises on the anterior half of the body ; the first ray one-fourth the height of 

 the second. Pectorals rounded. Ventrals beneath the dorsal, shorter than the pectorals. Anal 

 arises 0*75 behind the dorsal, and is higher than long ; the first ray one-fourth the height of 

 the second. Caudal large, three inches wide when expanded. 



Color. Back dark brown ; sides and abdomen flesh-colored, with metallic reflections. Head 

 bluish above ; gill-covers silvery, with metallic tints and a brown membranous prolongation. 

 Dorsal brown with reddish. Pectorals brownish above ; lighter beneath. Ventrals and anal 

 light-colored. 



Length, 14- 0. 



Fin rays, D. 10 ; P. 17 ; V. 8 ; A. 10 ; C. 22. 



According to Dr. Storer, this species is found in the Eastern States, where it is called Roach 

 and Cousin Trout. 



