236 Fishes of the Ohio 



Caudal fin deeply bilobed, lobes equal, with scales extend- 

 ing upon the base of the rays. 



Anal fin narrow, slightly falciform. 



Ventral fin narrow, short, and does not extend as far back 

 as the base of the dorsal. 



Pectoral fin does not reach to the commencement of the 

 ventral fin. 



Length from 12 to 18 inches. 



Habitat. Ohio river and its tributaries. 



Color. Back and head olive and bluish, iridescent ; sides 

 silvery ; abdomen white, fins, dusky brown. 



D. 13 ; C. 22 ; A. 32 ; V. — ; P. 15 rays. 



Observations. The description of the Dorosoma notata 

 by Mr. Rafinesque, would not lead us to suspect that he had 

 this fish in view, yet I believe such was the case. He has 

 applied to the Dorosoma the same popular name that this is 

 known by in our markets. The characters he has mentioned 

 of, " a large brown and round spot above the base of the lat- 

 eral line and two oblong spots of an emerald color above the 

 head" are equally evident -in the young of our species but 

 disappear in older specimens. 



He however omits to notice an important generic charac- 

 ter, the elongated posterior ray of the dorsal fin which is so 

 peculiar and prominent that it could hardly escape observation. 



He is also incorrect in saying that " it is a small species, 

 seldom reaching over 9 or 10 inches." I have often met with 

 it measuring 18 inches in length. 



He is still further incorrect in his statement that " it comes 

 in the Spring and disappears in the Fall." It is common in 

 the market of Cincinnati during the whole of winter. 



There is no necessity for his genus Dorosoma, as it was 

 instituted exclusively to embrace this one species, and that 

 species adapts itself so well to the genus Chatoessus. 



We should, however, have retained the specific name " no- 

 tatus,^^ had not the preference belonged to Le Sueur's Mega- 

 lops notatus, which Cuvier says is a Chatoessus. Le Sueur 

 published his description in 1818, and Rafinesque his in 

 1819 and '20. 



