20 FISHES or THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



The following key, although not wholly satisfactory, will be found 

 helpful in identifying the species included in the following list. It 

 is arranged on the alternative plan, and is to be used in the following 

 manner : 



Trace the characters of the specimens with what is said under each 

 succeeding letter, until there is a disagreement, or the name of the 

 fish is reached. AVhen a disparity occurs, go to the double of the 

 letter under which it occurs, thence proceed as before until another 

 disagreement or a name is found, and so on. 



Example : We have, say, the brown trout and it is not recognized. 

 Compare it Avith statement a. It does not agree, having 2 fins on the 

 back. Turn to aa. Two fins on the back agrees ; go then to m, where 

 the statement also agrees, n agrees also; o does not; but oo does; 

 likewise f and q. r does not, since the outer ventral rays of our 

 specimen are white, and the red spots are surrounded with a light blue 

 areola. 



Turn to rr, which agrees. The presence of red spots places it in t^ 

 w^ith which it agrees, and the name follows. 



a. One fin on the back. 



h. A'enti-als or belly flns present ; body not especially elongate, vertical flns 

 (dorsal and anal) not meeting around the tail. 

 c. Lips thick, provided with small rounded elevations or papillte. 



d. Snout long; scales comparatively small, about 104 Longnose Sucker. 



dd. Snout not very long; scales larger, about 67 Common Sucker. 



cc. Lips not especially thick and without papilliP. 

 e. Scales very small and inconspicuous. 

 /. Lateral line, or line of pores along side, incomplete ; mouth ter- 

 minal, oblique. 



g. Two dark stripes along side Redbellied Minnow. 



gg. One dark stripe along side Bronze Minnow, 



//. Lateral line complete ; mouth somewhat inferior and horizontal. 



//. Snout long and prominent, projecting notably beyond the 



mouth ; dark stripe along side if present not especially 



distinct Longnose Dace. 



hh. Snout moderate, projecting but little beyond mouth ; a 



distinct black lateral stripe Blacknose Dace. 



ee. Scales larger and conspicuous. 



i. Mouth large, with bands of sharp teeth ; dorsal or back fin 



situated posteriorly Pickerel. 



ii. Mouth not especially large; no teeth; back fin not placed 

 posteriorly. 

 j. Breast or forward paired fins (pectorals) not reaching 

 nearly to ventrals. 

 k. No black spot at base of dorsal fin in front ; scales not 



small and not crowded on front part of body Chub. 



fcfc. Black spot at base of dorsal in front; scales smaller 

 and crowded on fore part of body Mud Chub. 



