Series Ostariophysi 385 
forms. There is some evidence that the group is derived from 
Asia through western America, the Pacific Coast forms being 
much nearer the Old World types than the forms inhabiting the 
Mississippi Valley. Not many Cyprinide are found in Mexico, 
none in Cuba, South America, Australia, Africa, or the islands 
to the eastward of Borneo. Many species are very widely 
distributed, many others extremely local. In the genus Notro- 
pts, each river basin in the Southern States has its series of different 
and mostly highly colored species. The presence of Notroptis 
niveus in the Neuse, Notropis pyrrhomelas in the Santee, Notro- 
pis zonisttus in the Chattahoochee, Notropis callistius, tri- 
chroistius, and stigmaturus in the Alabama, Notropts whtpplei in 
Fic. 295 —Silverfin, Notropis whipplei (Girard). White River, Indiana. 
Family Cyprinide. 
the Mississippi, Notropis galacturus in the Tennessee, and Notro- 
pis cercostigma in the Sabine forms an instructive series in this 
regard. These fishes and the darters (Etheostomine) are, among 
American fishes, the groups best suited for the study of local 
problems in distribution. 
Species of Dace and Shiner——Noteworthy species in other 
genera are the following: 
Largest and best known of the species of Notropis is the 
familiar shiner or redfin, Notropts cornutus, found in almost 
every brook throughout the region east of the Missouri River. 
Campostoma anomalum, the stone-roller, has the very long 
intestines six times the length of its body, arranged in fifteen 
coils around the air-bladder. This species feeds on mud and 
spawns in little brooks, swarming in early spring throughout 
Wh : 
