31. CYPRINID.® MINNILUS. 
187 
reacliiug front of eye, the premaxillaries below the level of the eye. 
Scales always deeper than long on the flanks, becoming extremely 
so in the adult. Lateral line decnrved. Dorsal moderate, inserted 
directly over the ventrals in the young, thrown somewhat backward in 
the adult by the growth of the postoccipital region. Pectorals barely 
or not reaching ventrals, the latter about to vent. Eegion in front of 
dorsal typically with about 23 scales. Coloration dark steel-blue above; 
the scales with dusky edges, the bases also dusky; a gilt line along the 
Ifack and one along each sftle, these distinct only when the fish is in the 
water ; belly and lower i^art of the sides silvery, or bright rosy in spring 
males ; dorsal fin somewhat dusky ; other fins plain ; the lower fins all 
rosy in spring males ; head dark above ; a dark shade behind scapula ; 
lower jaw and region in front of dorsal to the tip of the snout covered 
with small tubercles in spring males ; female and young fishes are plain 
olivaceous above and silvery below. Head 4^ ; depth 3J, varying much 
with age. D. 8 ; A. 9 ; scales 0-41-3 ; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, with rather nar- 
row grinding surface. L. 5-8 inches. Entire region east of the Eocky 
Mountains excepting the South Atlantic States and Texas; almost 
eveiywhere the most abundant fish in small streams. Its variations 
are great. The following forms are worth distinguishing by name. 
Var. I'abbus Cope. 
Sixteen scales before tlie dorsal fin. Anterior <lorsal region in the 
males extremely short and swollen ; the base of the dorsal therefore 
very oblique. Michigan to Kentuckj- ; common. 
{Uijpsilejyis cornutus gibbits Cope, Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Pliila. 1887, 158.) 
A'ar. fs'ositaSIs Agassiz. 
Fifteen to eighteen scales in front of dorsal. Head heavy. Body 
less gibbous than in the preceding. Great Lake Eegion, etc. 
{Leuciscus frontalis and gracilis Agassiz, Lake Superior, 3G8, 370.) 
Var. cei'asiaitas Cope. 
Sixteen scales before dorsal ; scales 6-40-3. Head 4 in length. Eye 
large, 3^ in head. Colors very brilliant, in high coloration entirely red. 
Eoanoke Eiver. 
{Ugpsilepis cornutus cerasinus Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1867, 159.) 
Tar. coa'tacataas. 
Above described. The scales 22-25 in front of dorsal fin. Every- 
where abundant. 
{Cuprinus cornutus ilitcliill, Ainer. Month. Mag. i, 324; ITijpsilcpis cornutus Cope, 
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1867, 158 ; Plargijrus tijpicus ami bowmani Girard, Proc. Acad. 
Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1856, 196: Flargijrus argentatus Girard,!, c. 212: Leuciscus cornutus 
Giinther, vii, 249; Luxilus chrgsocephalus Rat. Ichth. Oh. 1820, 47.) 
