31. CYPRINID^ — MINNILUS. 1(S7 



reaching 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 decurved. Dorsal moderate, inserted 

 directly over the ventrals in the young-, thrown somewhat backward in 

 the ifdult 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 

 back and one along each side, these distinct oaly 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 3^, 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 

 everywhere the most abundant fish in small streams. Its variations 

 are great. The fallowing forms are worth distinguishing by name. 

 Var. giltbus 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 Kentucky ; common. 



{IIlipnUcinH cornutns (jibbaa Cope, Proc. Aca,d. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1SG7, 158.) 

 Var. fB'Oiit:aSas 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, 368, 370.) 

 Var. cerasintis Cope. 



Sixteen scales before dorsal ; scales G-40-3. Head 4 in length. Eye 

 large, 3^ in head. Colors very brilliant, in high coloration entirely red. 

 Eoanoke Eiver. 



(Hypsilepis cornuliis cerasinus Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. 1867, 159.) 

 Var. coB'iititus. 



Above described. The scales 22-2o in front of dorsal fin. Every- 

 ■where abundant. 



(Cyprinus corniitm Mitcliill, Araor. Month. Mag. i, 324: JTi/pnilcjns cornittus Cope, 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1867, 158 : Plurgyrus typicus and bowinani Girard, I'roc. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. Phila. 1856, 196: riargyrus argentatns Girard,!. c. 212: Leuciscus cornutus 

 GUnther, v»i, 249: Luxilus chrysoccphalus Rat Ichth, Oil. 1820, 47.) 



