Fig. 2°oa.. Xotrop: Baird and Girard 



As will be seen by the illustration, this is a most beautiful minnow. It is found in 

 the streams of the central and southern Mississippi Valley. In some places it is sc 

 numerous that it is used as a bait fish. 



Unfortunately the bright, iridescent colors shown here are at their best only in the 

 spring months, during their breeding season. 



The species breeds like the Goldfish, scattering adhesive iggs and paying no attention 

 to them. They are not reared commercially because it is easy enough to catch them in 

 the wild. An aquarium of about :5-gallon capacity containing perhaps a dozen of these 

 fishes disporting themselves is indeed a beautiful sight. They readily take any kind of 

 food, prepared or living. 



??4a 



