34 FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 



frequent distended appearance of the abdomen due to tapeworms with 

 which the fish seems to be extensively affected. 



Its range is somewhat greater than is given by Jordan and Ever- 

 mann, reaching to New Brunswick and Quebec and in the United 

 States extending south to northern Alabama and west to Minnesota 

 at least, the form running into several varieties. Ernest Thompson- 

 Seton does not mention it as occurring in Manitoba. ^Ye collected it 

 in Mud Pond Brook, in Round Pond Brook, in a rivulet affluent of 

 Main Inlet above mouth of First Lake, in Main Inlet at mouth of 

 Coon Brook, at the mouth of East Inlet of Second Lake, along shore 

 of Third Lake, in Third Lake at outlet, and in Indian Stream. It 

 attains a length of about 3 inches and is usually very abundant 

 throughout its range in clear streams. Specimens collected measured 

 from 1.29 to 2.95 inches in length. In the upper Connecticut waters 

 it appears to be less abundant than its congener, although locally it 

 was somewhat more numerous at times. Like the other dace, it feeds 

 upon small aquatic animals and insects. 



Young individuals from about 1.29 to 1.66 inches long were found 

 to be feeding upon diatoms, entomostraca, small aquatic worms, and 

 fragments of insects. 



The spawning time is in the spring and early summer, when the 

 males assume a more brilliant coloration, more or less red being evi- 

 dent, and often the intensely black stripe seems to be margined with 

 reddish golden or bronze. 



The larger individuals of this little species are hardy and make an 

 attractive bait for salmon and trout. They may be caught with a 

 small hook and worm bait, but this is a slow method. The most satis- 

 factory means is by minnow traps ; a small seine or dip-net is some- 

 times effective in brooks that are clear enough, where the ingenuity 

 of the fishermen may indicate ways and means of driving the fish into 

 the nets. 



10. Chub-minnow. Couesius plumbeus (Agassiz). 



Head 4.45 (3.7 to 5.2) ; eye 3.75 (3.3 to 4.2) ; snout 3.35 (3.07 to 3.8) ; dorsal 

 8; anal 8 ; scales about 65 (60 to 70) in lateral line, about 34 (31 to 37) before 

 dorsal fin. 



Body elongate, not compressed; bead flattish above; snout broad, somewhat 

 projecting over the moderate, somewhat oblique mouth ; maxillary barely reach- 

 ing front of eye ; barbels on maxillary always evident ; eye large, nearly equal- 

 ing snout; pharyngeal teeth said to be normally 2, 4-4, 2 (in our specimens 

 variously 2, 4-i, 2;. 2, 5-i, 2; 2, 4-4, 1; 1, 4-4, 1 and 1, 4-4, 0). Scales small, 

 crowded forward, those on the back smallest; origin of dorsal nearly midway 

 l)etween tip of snout and middle base of caudal, being slightly nearer latter; 

 longest dorsal ray about 1.4 in head, the anterior rays longest ; free margin of 

 fins slightly concave; longest anal ray from 1.2 to 1.6, its form similar to that 

 of dorsal ; caudal forked ; pectoral rounded, reaching nearly to base of ventrals, 

 1.2 to 1.6 in head; ventrals reaching vent, about l.G in head. 



