4(J 



There arc in the United States more than fifty species of 

 small fresh water fishes, (and in the Ohio waters more than six- 

 teen species) commonly called Minnies, Minneus, Bait-fish^ 

 Chubs, and Shiners, which should belong to the genus CyprU 

 nus of Linneus, or rather to the part of it which has been call- 

 ed Leuciscus by Klein and Cuvier; which subgenus (or genus) 

 is distinguished by a smal! dorsal fin, no spines nor beards; 

 but as the genus Cy/irimi^ forms now a large family, and 

 veen the genus Leucisciis must be divided, since it contains 

 more than one hundred anomalous species, differing in the po- 

 sition of the dorsal fin and the vent, the number of rays to the 

 abdominal fins. Sec, I venture to propose this and the three 

 following genera. Three other different genera might be es- 

 tablished upon the European species, distinguished as follow: 



.Dobula. Dorsal fin nearer to the tail, abdominal fins with 

 nine rays and an appendage: upper ja»v longer. 



Phoxinus differs by ten abdominal rays and no appendage. 



Alburnus differs from Dobula by no appendage and the. 

 lower jaw longer. 



Besides my genus Hemi/ilus^ (Annals of nature,) which has 

 the vent posterior, the lower jaw longer, uniy five rays and an 

 appendage to the abdominal fins. 



All these small fish are permanent; they feed on worms, in- 

 jects, univalve shells, and spawn; they bite at a small hook, 

 baited with worms or flies, and they form an excellent bait for 

 all the larger fish which feed upon them. They are good lo 

 eat when fried. ^ > 



36th Species. Slender MixNny. Minu^us dinemus. Min- 

 Hy emeraude. 



Diameter one eighth of total length, silvery, back olivaceous 

 with a brown longitudinal stripe in the middle: two lateral 

 lines, one straight, the lower curved downwards and shorter: 

 head i^iltand green above. Dorsal fin 9 rays. Anal fin 12 rays. 

 , A small and slender species, common in the Ohio, &c. and 

 <>-oin^ in flocks; lensrth two or three inches. Its head is beau- 

 tiful when alive: it is above of a fine gold colour with green 

 shades, becoming of an emerald green above the eyes. Iris 

 silvery: sides opaque, upper lateral line gold-green. Nostrils 



