[cox] FRESH WATER FISHES AND BATRACHIA 143 



CYPEINID^. 



Leuciscus cornutus, Gnthr. Eed-fin. 



This attractive, well-known, but variable little cyprinid was found 

 in small numbers in brooks, emptying into the Grand Cascapedia near 

 its mouth, the only station in the peninsula. It is generally distributed 

 in New Brunswick, and occum also in the Metapedia, but the Cascapedia 

 form is a well-marked variety, deserving recognition as a boreal type. 

 The size is small, barely four inches in length ; coloration brilliant, 

 with the two commonly evanescent lateral golden bands very distinct 

 in life, and visible after months of immersion in spirit ; the scale 

 formula shows a slight increase, with 37 in front of the dorsal, while the 

 New Brunswick and Metapedia shiners have from 16 to 22. The anal 

 fin-rays are 8 instead of 9, and the free margin of the dorsal is straight 

 or slightly convex, not concave, due to a shortening of the anterior rays, 

 which, when the fin is depressed, about equal the posterior. As will, 

 howcTer, be pointed out subsequently, the latter, aside from more impor- 

 tant differences, cannot be regarded as a modification of much signi- 

 ficance or value. Caudal peduncle slender. All the fins^ including chin 

 and throat, scarlet. 



Noiemigonus chrysoleucus, Jor. Golden Shiner. 



Like the last, this species was found in but one river valley in 

 Gaspé, that of Grand Pabos, where it occurs in two .small bodies of 

 water near the coast, known as Lac à Canard and Murphy's Lake. It 

 is in all respects typical except that the anal fin-rays are 12 instead of 

 13, but this variation is not uncommon among New Brunswick speci- 

 mens. Occurs also in Metapedia river and lake. 



This was the only fresh-water fish found on P.E. Island by Eoy 

 McLean Vanwart of Fredericton and the writer in 1896, while making 

 an investigation of its batrachia and fishes. It was collected from 

 Afton Lake, near Mount Stewart, and agrees with the Gaspé specimens 

 in having 18 rays in the anal fin. No information could be had of the 

 time nor manner of its introduction, nor was its presence known to the 

 people living in the vicinity. As the lake is only a few acres in extent, 

 without afiluents, and with an outlet only during spring freshets, it is 

 just possible that some admirer of this handsome fish planted it here 

 long ago. Let this be as it may, the general absence of the small fresh- 

 water fishes from an island so convenient to the coasts of New Bruns- 

 wick and Nova Scotia, and lying in the general line of bird migration, 

 argues strongly against the theory of the dispersal of fishes^ through 



