50 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Notropis wliipplei Girard. — Raccoon at Des Moines, Adel and Perry: Walnut 

 creek; Middle river; North river; Des Moines river at Des Moines and Ft Dodge; 

 Squaw creek; Yader creek. 



Tliis specimen is one of the prettiest of the genus. The closely set scales, bluish 

 or steel blue in color, the graceful outline, the brilliant yellow or red fins of the 

 nuptial dress in spring all make this species as conspicuous in the seine as the 

 beautiful Chrosomns erijthrogaster. It is very abundant in all parts of our area. 

 The males are armed in spring with a great number of small tubercles which 

 extend backwards over the head and nape even to the dorsal fin. Compared to its 

 length its depth exceeds that of any other iV"ofro/)(s except' JV"o/ro/;/s lufrensis, a 

 species not found in our limit but abuodant in Northwestern Iowa. The form 

 was originally described from Arkansas, thus showing the wide geographical 

 distribution of this species. As a usual thing great range of distribution is cor- 

 related with great variation in certain characters, but in this case there is a marked 

 departure from the law, the variations being slight. Little or no differences 

 are noticeable on careful comparison. 



Pheuacobius mirabilis Girard.— Middle river; North river; Beaver creek; 

 Raccoon river; Des Moines; Squaw creek; Four Mile creek. 



Large, fine examples of this species are found in the smaller streams and in the 

 bayous along the larger ones all over our area. The marked black spots at the base 

 of the caudal is a conspicuous character which, joined to the peculiar mouth, ren- 

 ders the form of easy identification. The only fish with which it is likely to be 

 confused is Notropis caynga but from this it is readily distinguished by color and 

 size and by the mouth. The species is fairly common. 

 Rhynictliys atrouasus Mitchell.— Walnut creek; Beaver creek. 

 A single example of this form occurred in each of these streams, indicating its 

 rarity in our area. The genus, which com [rises two species only in tbe United 

 States, is one confined mainly to clear mountain streams and the State of Iowa 

 does not offer suitable habitats for the forirs. It is to be classed among the rarest 

 of our Cyprinoids. 



Hybopsis keutuckiensis Rafinesque.— Raccoon river at Des Moines, Adel and 

 Perry; North river; Beaver creek; Des Moines river at Dps Moines and at Ft. 

 Dodge; Walnut creek. 



This chub is one of the most abundant ot th*^ larger Cyprinoids and is rather 

 constant in its characters. In some localities, especially in the smaller streams 

 named above, it is very abundant and large. Those streams which are clear the 

 major part of the summer or which are fed by cold and perennial springs are most 

 favorable to its development. In Walnut creek occurred many specimens which 

 were affected with a crustacean parasite fastened to the soft flesh at the angle 

 formed by the junction of the pectoral fins with the body. While many of these 

 ■fishes were so affected it was noticeable chiefly on those fishes which were taken in 

 muddy water or in water with deep muddy bottom. The parasite is as yet 

 unstudied. 



Hybopsis storeriauus Kirtland.— Raccoon river, Perry, Des Moines and Adel; 

 Walnut creek; Middle river. 



This easily recognized and highly characteristic species is very abundant in the 

 larger of the streams named. The largest and finest specimens came from the 

 Raccoon river at Adel and from the Middle river, the form being especially abun- 

 dant in the last named stream. The decurved mouth, giving it a sucker-like 

 appearance at first view is characteristic and is a feature presented by no other 



