172 Conservation Department 



We took no si)ecimeiis in Lake Erie, altliougli llie species has been found 

 there (Dvmond). 



54-a. Xotropis corntus chrysocephnlua llafinesque. — Common shmer, red- 

 fin shiner. Abundant. Tliis large-sealed subspecies of the common shiner 

 is restricted to the lower courses of streams, Lake Erie, and the Niagara 

 river. In the upland streams its place is taken by the next subspecies. 

 Manv individual male shiners die after the spawning season. Several spent 

 males of chrijsocephalus were found in Cattaraugus creek, July 10, in a dying 

 condition. The many scars of these and of similar ones are evidence of the 

 fighting that takes place among males at the spawning season. 



ol-b. yotropis coniutus frontalis (Agassiz). — Common shiner,i rled-fin 

 shiner. Abundant. This, the fine-scaled subspecies, is widely distributed, 

 occuring in nearly every creek. In the lower courses of streams it is less 

 common than chrysocephalus and in Lake Erie it is of only stray occurrence. 

 WTiere both subspecies occur at the same locality, intermediates are usually 

 found. The present subspecies is a common fish of the upland trout streams, 

 but does not range quite as far into headwaters as the black-nosed dace, or 

 the horned dace. On June 17, spawning was observed in Little Bufialo creek, 

 and on July 9 in Silver creek. In both instances, an area of clean gravel, 

 lying in rather strong current, was chosen. At Silver creek, the spawning 

 took place on the nest of another species, the crested chub (Nocomis micropo- 

 gon). There were three males of coniutus present, competing for possession 

 of the spawning area, the selected spot being at the upstream side of the pile 

 of stones constituting the nest. The individual in possession of this spot 

 mated with several females in rapid succession, and defended the spawning 

 position against other males. He was soon supplanted by one of these, how- 

 ever, after several attacks from this adversary. The eggs were very numerous 

 in the gravel. They were 1.5 millimeters in diameter, after preservation in 

 formalin, and were pink, before preservation. They were lightly adhesive, 

 sticking to gravel or to each other. After each spawning operation, eggs were 

 eagerly sought out by a number of fish which had been attracted by this food 

 supply. Those seen to seek out eggs included rainbow darter, log perch, 

 horned dace, and small individuals of the two spawning species (the shiner, 

 and the crested chub). The water temperature was 83 degrees. 



55. Notropis umhratilis syanocephalus (Copeland). — Red-fin minnow, 

 (Plate 4,) Uncommon, Is restricted to several weedy creeks near Angola, 

 where it was first discovered by Prof. T. L. Hankinson in June. Males in full 

 breeding color were found as late as July 16. This species is, character- 

 istically, a Mississippi drainage fish. 



56. Notemigonus crysoleucas crysoleucas (Mitchill). — Golden shiner. 

 Common. Prefers a habitat where there is aquatic vegetation. Specimens 

 were found in Lake Erie, in sheltered bays and in many weedy streams and 

 ponds. An occasional specimen was taken in several of the more rocky 

 creeks. 



57. Jlyhoguafhus liaiikinnoiii (Hubbs). — Ilankinson's minnow.- Rare. A 

 single specimen at the U. S. National Museum (No. 70002), taken in Caze- 

 novia creek near Bufi'alo, by A. J. Woolman on August 8, 1893, is the only 

 record for the area covered by the survey. 



58. Ohrosomus erythrogaster Rafinesque. — Red-bellied dace. Uncommon. 

 In our drainage, this minnow is restricted to several sluggish streams and 

 small j)onds, near BufTalo and eastward. 



59. Hyborhynchns notatus Rafinesque. — Blunt-nosed minnow.3 Abundant. 

 One of the predominant species, in point of numbers, of the larger creeks and 

 the ponds of the watershed. In Lake Erie, it is common only in sheltered 

 areas. It is a prolific little fish, and has a long spawning season, lasting 

 until late summer. Eggs were found July 13 in Sister creek near the mouth. 

 They averaged 1.5 millimeters in diameter, after preservation in formalin, 

 and were transparent, with a polished appearance, when fresh. They 



% 



^ Illustrated in Oswego Survey Report, 1927. 

 ' Specimen determined by Dr. C. L. Hubbs. 

 * Illustrated in Genesee Survey Report, 1926. 



