1908.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 525 



(Monroe Co.); Dingmann's Ferry (Pike Co.): Susquehanna R. basin 

 in the Conestoga Creek (Lancaster Co.); Emporium (Cameron Co.). 



This is the largest and gamiest member of the family in our limits. 

 It occurs only east of the Alleghanies or in our Atlantic basin, seemingly 

 more abundant in the Delaware than in the Susquehanna. It is a 

 vigorous fish, reaching about 18 inches in length. It often occurs 

 about rapids and falls, from which it has earned the name of fall fish. 

 Tlie large ones occur in the rivers or other large bodies of water, though 

 small ones are mature when only a few inches long and found living 

 in small brooks. It is a very variable species, especially as to age, sex 

 or season. Small adults resemble the young of large adults, being 

 silvery with a dark lateral stripe, the latter fading out with age. It 

 is omnivorous, and is often abundant about mouths of sewers, with 

 suckers. It will take most bait, also the fly, and may be taken by 

 trolling. It is usually angled in the summer, though often bites well 

 in the fall. One often sees Thoreau quoted that ''the chub is a soft 

 fish and tastes hke brown paper salted," which is not altogether true, 

 as it is often a very acceptable pan fish and, perhaps not possessing 

 the qualities of flavor of some of our other fishes, is not always to be 

 compared to salted brown paper. It must be eaten when fresh and 

 is then very good. It is said to spawn in the spring in quiet shallow 

 places, accumulating large patches of gravel or pebbles, the so-called 

 "nests." 

 Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill). 



Head 3^ to 4; depth 3f ? to 5i?; D. iii, 7, i, rarely iii, 8, i; A, 

 iii, 7, I, rarely iii, 8, i; scales 49 to 61, usually 50 to 58 + 2 to 4, 

 usually 3; 9 to 12 scales above 1. 1., usually 10, frequently 11, otherwise 

 rarely; 5 to 8 scales below 1. 1., usually 6, frequently 7, otherwise rarely; 

 27 to 38 predorsal scales, usually 30 to 34; snout 3 to 3|- in head; 

 eye 3^ to 7f ; maxillary 2| to 3^; teeth 2, 5-4, 2, occasionally 2, 4-4, 2, 

 rarely 2, 6-6, 2 or 2, 5-5, 2 or 2, 3, 2-5, 2 or 2, 5-3, 4, 5 or 2, 5, 3-4, 

 3, 2 or 3, 4-4, 2, Body robust forward, compressed. Head robust, 

 broad, obtusely conic, heavy. Snout broad, convex, length f its width. 

 Eye round, rather high. Mouth broad, rather large, little inclined. 

 Mandible included. Jaws heavy. Maxillary about to eye, with short 

 barbel above near end, latter absent in young. Rakers 2 + 6 short 

 weak points. Scales small, crowded and smaller anteriorly. Dorsal 

 origin about midway between front pupil margin and caudal base. 

 Anal behind dorsal base. Caudal forked. Pectoral about f to ventral, 

 latter inserted little before dorsal and reaching about f to anal. Color 

 dusky-oUve above. Dull diffuse band of same laterally, usually ending 

 34 



