FIELD BOOK OF PONDS AND STREAMS 



Distribution. — East of the Rockies except Texas; very 

 common. 



^ 





tus. 



Fig. 276. — Horned dace, Semotilus atromaciila- 



Homed dace, chub, Semotilus atromaculatus. — Homed 

 dace (Fig. 276) are stream fishes often found with the black- 

 nosed dace. They are dusky bluish in color with a conspicu- 

 ous black spot at the base of the dorsal fin, which is bordered 

 with red in the male. During the breeding season through 

 May and July the heads of the males are orange colored and 

 are covered with little hornlike growths or "pearl organs," 

 which have given them the name of horned dace. 



The male builds the nest in the riffles. It is a shallow pit 

 walled with small stones which he pushes into position with 

 his head. Females enter the nesting basin, lay a few eggs 

 and leave it, but the male remains to guard them. 



Size. — 10 inches. 



Distribution. — Maine to Wyoming, south to Alabama; 

 common. 





Fig. ijj. — Blunt-nosed minnow, Hyborhynchus 

 not at us. 



Blunt-nosed minnow, Hyborhynchus notatus. — The blunt- 

 nosed minnows (Fig. 277) are never more than four inches 



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