94 FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



71. NOTROPIS PYRRHOMELAS (Cope). 

 Fiery-black Minnow. 



Photogenis pyrrhomelas Cope, 18706, 363; Catawba River. 



Notropis pyrrhomelas, Jordan, 18896, 134, 138; Yadkin and Catawba rivers. Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 230. 



Diagnosis. — Body rather deep, compressed, the depth contained 3.75 to 4 times in total 

 length; head short, blunt, .25 total length of body; mouth oblique, jaws equal, maxillary 

 extending as far as anterior margin of orbit; eye large, its length contained 3 to 3.6 times in 

 length of head and 1.25 times in interorbital space; teeth sharp, hooked, without grinding 

 surface; scales 34 to 36 in lengthwise series, 9 in crosswise series; dorsal fin high, its height in 

 males equal to head, rays 8; anal fin large, rays 10 or 11; pectoral fins reaching about to ven- 

 trals and the latter to anal; caudal fin broad and long, the peduncle stout and compressed. 

 Color: males steel blue above, the scales darker edged, belly abruptly milky white; head pale 

 reddish, muzzle, upper lip and iris vermiUion; dorsal fin vermillion anteriorly, a black spot 

 posteriorly, with a milk-white tip; caudal with a broad black posterior margin, next to which is a 

 wide vermillion crescent, base of tail pale; anal and ventral fins with white pigment; females 

 duller. Length, 3.5 inches, {'pyrrhomelas, fiery-black.) 



This minnow, described by Cope from tributaries of the upper Catawba, is 

 known only from the Catawba and Yadkin basins. In 1869 Cope found it to be 

 the most abundant fish in the upper Catawba region; and in 1888 the same state- 

 ment apphed to it. In the Yadkin, in the vicinity of SaHsbury, it is common. 

 It is probably the most beautiful of the minnows, the brilliant red, black, and 

 white making a sharp contrast. The males retain their colors until autumn and 

 possibly throughout the year. 



72. NOTROPIS ALBEOLUS Jordan & Meek. 

 "Shiner", 



Notropis megalops albeolus Jordan & Meek, in Jordan, 18896, 123, 125, 129; Roanoke River, Va., Tar and Neuse 



rivers. 

 Hypsilepis cornutus, var. cornutus, Cope, 18706, 459; Neuse River. 



Notropis megalops, Evermann & Cox, 1896, 309; Neuse River {^=H. cornutus cornutus, Cope, supra). 

 Notropis albeolus, Evermann & Cox, 1896, 305; Neuse River near Raleigh. Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 283. 



Diagnosis. — A large species, with depth equal to .25 total length; head heavy, com- 

 pressed, about .25 total length; mouth of moderate size, horizontal, lower jaw somewhat 

 shorter than upper; eye rather large, contained 3.5 times in length of head; about 38 scales in 

 lateral line, 14 scales between dorsal fin and nape; lateral line decurved; dorsal fin high, the 

 free margin concave, rays 8; anal high, concave, rays 9; caudal fin and peduncle long. Color: 

 olive green above, silvery white on sides; fins white; snout pink in males, {albeolus, whitish.) 



Inhabits the channels and lower courses of Tar and Neuse rivers, and appears 

 to be rather uncommon. It is one of the largest of the genus, attaining a length 

 of 7 inches. 



73. NOTROPIS COCCOGENIS (Cope). 

 Red-cheeked Minnow. 



Hypsilepis coccogenis Cope, Proceedings Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1867, 160, pi. 27, fig, 



5; Holston River, Va. Cope, 18706, 459; French Broad River. 

 Notropis coccogenis, Jordan, 18896, 152; French Broad, Swannanoa and tributaries. Jordan & Evermann, 



18S6. 284. pi. xlix. fig. 124. 



