Biological Survey — Erie-Niagara Watershed 171 



large streams than in small ones, and is rare in Lake Erie. A common fish 

 of upland streams, thriving in -warm or cold waters. In food habits it 

 resembles the trout, and is evidently one of the most serious competitors of 

 these. 



42. Margariscus margarita (Cope). — Pearl minnow. i Uncommon. Is 

 limited to a few. small streams of the uplands. Usually found in cold w^aters, 

 often associated with the brook trout. 



43. Cli)iostomits elongatus (Kirtland). — Red-sided dace^ Common in 

 many streams. Reaches its highest abundance in small streams of muddy or 

 rubble bottom. Does not avoid waters cold enough for trout. 



44. Opsopoeodus emiliae (Hay). — Ptig-nosed shiner, Jordan and Ever- 

 manns give it as occurring in Lake Erie. There appear to be no definite 

 records. 



45. Xotropis heterodon (Cope). — Rare. A few specimens were obtained 

 from the Niagara River among weed beds, on July 2G. Several individuals 

 were nearly ready to spawn. 



46. Kotr-opis heterolepis Eigenmann & Eigenmann. — Black-nosed minnow\ 

 Common. Found in sluggish streams and ponds and in sheltered bays of Lake 

 Erie. A common fish of swamp situations. Females nearly ready to spawn 

 were found as late as July 2f), in the Niagara river. 



47. Kotropis volucelliis voluoeUiis (Cope). — Common. Occurs in Lake Erie, 

 especially in creek mouths. Inhabits many of the larger streams, such as 

 Ellicott creek, and other sluggish ones of the eastern part of the drainage 

 where it seems to be an important source of food for pickerel, bass, and other 

 game fish. 



48. ]\^otropis deliciosus stramineus (Cope). — Straw-colored minnow. 

 Abundant in Lake Erie and many of the larger tributaries, in their lower 

 courses. Thousands were seined in late June and early July, when they 

 were close inshore for the purpose of spawiiing. This species is fed upon by 

 many lake fish*. 



49. Noti'opis dorsalis (Agassiz). — ^Gill>ert's minnow. Common in many 

 streams of the Tonawanda and Ellicott creek drainages. Not taken in Lake 

 Erie, seeming to prefer streams. 



50. Xot)-opis hudso)nus (Clinton). Spot-tailed minnow^. Abundant in 

 Lake Erie, and ascends certain of the larger creeks. Numerous specimens 

 were taken in late June and early July along the lake shore and in the lower 

 parts of creeks where spawning takes place, judging from the ripe condition 

 of the eggs of many of these. 



51. Xotropis ichipplii spilopterus (Cope). — ^Satin-finned minnows', silver- 

 fin. Common in the lower courses of several tributaries of Lake Erie; rare 

 in the lake, itself. 



52. Xotropis atherinoides Rafinesque. — Lake shiner, emerald minnow. 

 Abundant. We consider this the most plentiful fish of Lake Erie. It occurs 

 there in great schools, in deep as well as shallow water, and is also abundant 

 in the Niagara river and in the lower courses of large creeks. This species 

 forms an important food supply for the blue pike, yellow pike, white bass and 

 other predacious lake fish. It is the most widely used bait minnow of the 

 region. A few specimens that were full of nearly ripe eggs were taken close 

 inshore in late June (the 21st) but nothing definite was learned of their 

 spawning. Young were found in the Niagara river and in lake Erie during 

 the latter part of the summer. 



53. Notropis ruhrifrons (Cope). — Rosy-faced minnow. LTncommon, Is 

 found in several of the larger creeks, usually where there is strong current. 



^ Illustrated in Genesee Survey Report. 1926. 



' Illustrated in Genesee Survey Report, 1926. 



» Bulletin 47 United States National Museum (1896). 



< See Dr. C. K. Sibley's report, p. 184. 



' Illustrated in Oswego Survey Report, 1927. 



^ Illustrated in Genesee Survey Report, 1926. 



