6o VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES 



S. cervinum (Cope). Length 250 mm.; head 5; body elongate; color 

 greenish brown, with a pale blotch on each scale, these forming con- 

 tinuous lines along the sides; rays of the dorsal fin 10 to 12; scales 

 6-43-5, 13 before the dorsal: from the James River to the Neuse; 

 abundant in rapid water. 



15. Placopharynx Cope. Large suckers, like Moxostoma, except 

 that the pharyngeal bones are stronger and the lower teeth very large, 

 nearly cylindrical in form, and 6 to 10 in number; upper teeth small and 

 compressed: i species. 



P. carinatus Cope. Big-jawed sucker. Length 750 mm.; head 4; 

 depth 3.8; color dark olive green; caudal and lower fins bright red; rays 

 of dorsal fin 12 or 13; anal 9; scales 6-45-6; head and mouth large; lips 

 very thick: Michigan to Georgia and Arkansas; abundant in large 

 streams. 



16. Logochila Jordan & Brayton. Like Moxostoma, except that the 

 upper Hp is not protractile and the lower lip is split, consisting of two 

 lobes: i species. 



L. lacera J. & B . Harelip sucker. Head short ; depth 4.6 ; color pale 

 olive; sides and belly silvery; rays of dorsal fin 12; anal 7; scales 5-45-5; 

 mouth large, inferior, the upper lip being prolonged : middle Mississippi 

 Valley; locally common. 



Family 2. Cyprinidae. — Minnows; carp; dace. Small or medium 

 sized fishes with an elongate body, usually covered with cycloid scales 

 and with a naked head ; margin of the upper jaw formed by the premaxil- 

 laries alone; jaws toothless; the two paired lower pharyngeal bones 

 parallel with the gill arches, each being falciform in shape and bearing 

 I or 2 (in some European species 3) rows of teeth on each side, there 

 being 4, 5 or 6 teeth in the main or hindermost row in the American 

 species, and i or 2 teeth in the other row, if present at all; pseudo- 

 branchiae usually present; branchiostegal rays 3; gills 4; fins typically 

 spineless; ventral fins abdominal in position; air bladder large, with 

 usually 2 compartments: over 200 genera and 1,000 species, in North 

 America and the Old World, all in fresh water; most of which have 

 no food value. 



The American species are mostly small, often very small, fishes 

 which abound in every brook and small stream. Many are very 

 brightly colored, especially in the springtime when the males have their 

 nuptial coloration of reds and yellows. Numerous conspicuous tuber- 

 cles may also cover the top of the head and other portions of the body 

 of the male at this time. Two important members of this family have 

 been introduced from Europe, the carp and the goldfish, both how- 



