254 Bulletin ^7, United States Xational Museum. 



123. NOTROPIS,* Rafinesque. 



(Shixers.) 



TSobvpit, R-vmrESQUB, Amer. Monthly Mag., 11, 1818, 20i, (atherinoides). 



MinHihiiy, Rajin-esqce, Icli. Oh., 45, 1820, (dinetmts). 



Liuciliis, R.iFiSEsgrE, /. c, 47, (chn/socephalm). 



Plargi/rus, Ratixesque, /. c-., 47, {plargyms). 



Uyps-jlepis, (Bairp), Agassiz, Anier. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1^54, 359, (comutus). 



Alhnmelluf, Girard, Proc. Ac. Xat. Sci. Phila., 1856, 193,' {diiecttis). 



Alhnmops, GlB.\RD, ?. c, 194, (blemiitis). 



CiMloma, Girard, /. c, 194, (ornata). 



OgprineUa, Girard, I. c. 196, (hiibalinns). 



Xoniana, Girard, I. c, 199, (lutrensU). 



Hu-lsomuf, Girard, I. c, 210, (hiidsotrnts). 



Photogenk, Cope, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, 1866, 378, {fpiloptertis). 



Graoduf, GCsther, Cat. Fishes, vii, 4S-5, 18G8, (nigroUdiialus). 



Lyfhrunts, Jordan, Man. Vert. E. V. S., Ed. 1, 272, 1876, {diplemiiis). 



EpUema, Cope i Jordan, Proc. Ac. Xat. Sci. Phila., 1877, 77, (jKahriceps ; name preoccupied). 



Bijdrophlox, JoRDAX, Bull. U. S. Xat. Mns., xil, 18, 1878, (nitricroceii*). 



ErO'jaUi, Jorpax, I. c, 20, {stigmaturtis) . 



Chriopf, Jordan, Bull. Havden's Surv. Terr., it, 787, 1878, {bifretiatm). 



Minielltis, Jordan, Man. Yert., Ed. v, 56, 1S90, {procne}. 



Azteca, Jordan jc Evebjiasx, new subgenus, {rittaia = aztecus). 



Orcella, Jordan i Etekmann^ new subgenus, {orca). 



Body oblong or elongate, more or less compressed. Mouth normal, 

 mostly terminal and oblique, sometimes subinferior. No barbels. Teeth 

 in one or two rows, those of the larger row always 4-4, hooked, sharp- 

 edged or with a narrow grinding surface. Scales large, often closely im- 

 bricated, those before the dorsal rarely very small. Lateral line complete 

 or nearly so, usually decurved. Dorsal tin inserted above, or more usually 

 behind, the ventrals; anal tin short or somewhat elongate. Abdomen 

 rounded, never sharp-edged. Coloration more or less silvery, often bril- 

 liant, the males in spring usually with red or white pigment and the head 



* The following is Rafinesque's original account of Xotropis and its typical ppecies: 



X G. Xotropis: Holobranchial abdominal. Body elongated compressed, back carinated, 

 nearly straight, belly not carinated, scarcely bowed, a lateral line and a longitudinal silver band; 

 Tent nearer the tail than the head. Head oral compressed, couTex aboTe, mouth diagonal large, 

 jaws without teeth, the lower longer and mobile, the npp r extensible ; eyes very large ; gill 

 cover large, smooth valviform, three branchial rays. One dorsal fin opposed to the interval 

 between the anal andaWominal fins, which have nine rays. 



Obierrations. — The generic name means carinated or keeled back. It forms a remarkable new 

 genus, belonging to the third natural order Gastripin or the abdominals, the sixteenth natural 

 family Cuprinia, and the second subfamily Gymnop<iiiua, (see Analysis of Xature) together with 

 the genera Ci/pnuiis, Alherma. Hydrarffi/ra, etc. It differs from the first liy the compressed body, 

 carinated back, lateral lanri, large mouth, deep-cleft gill cover, etc., and from thetwo last genera 

 by the three branchial rays, nine rays to the abdominal fins, want of teeth, etc. 



Xolropis atherinoUle.<: Head silvery, brown above ; liody jiale fulvous, transparent, with a 

 broad silver band : lateral line in the band ; fins whitish, dorsal, and anal with eleven rays, the 

 first very short, tail slightly forked. 



Histtiry. — This new fish was discovered in Lake Erie by Gov. De "Witt Clinton, who had the 

 kindness to present me with many specimens : they are now deposited in the Lyceum of Xatural 

 Historv". I have ascertained that they belonged to a new genus, next to Atherina, and the specific 

 name which I have adopted implies such an affinity. These fishes come on the shores of Lake 

 Erie, and even in the river of Niagara, in the spring, in great shoals ; but they are so small that 

 they are scarcely noticed, and escape through the common nets ; their usual size being from one 

 to two inches, and very thin and slender; they are called MinnyoTMimiotr. together with twenty 

 different other species offish, and often considered as the young of other fishes. They live in the 

 depth of the lake at other seasons, and are jirobably common all over the great lakes. Their eyes 

 are exceedingly large, occupying nearly the whole foreside of the head, the lips are very thin 

 and membrauaceons, the nostrils large,- the gill cover is nearly round, and split above to the 

 eyes : they have small, thin, broad scales, the rays of the fins are scarcely articulated, simple and 

 brittle : the pectoral fins have about fifteen rays, and the caudal fin about twenty-four. — 

 Riifinesque. 



