THE FISHES OF GEORGIAN BAY 25 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b 



Notropis blennius, Girard. 



(Straw-colored minnow) 



(Plate II, fig. 11) 



Abundant in shore swamps, especially in the vicinity of open water. Often 

 seen in schools containing hundreds of individuals. The species is easily recognized 

 in the water by the short stout body and by the pale coloration, or, when examined 

 closely, by the dark specks above and below the pores of the lateral line. The 

 coloration on the whole is noteworthy for its lack of character. 



Length 2f inches. Body appearing short in comparison with its width and 

 depth; moderately compressed, and for the most part evenly tapered at the ends, 

 except that the ventral profile increases rapidly to the shoulder and little beyond 

 that point. Depth 4.2 to 5.3 Coloration pale straw yellow. Scales with prom- 

 inent dark edges. A narrow vertebral line, expanding in front of the dorsal 

 fin into a more or less evident blotch. A faint broad plumbeous band, scarcely 

 evident, along the side of the body. Lateral line decurved anteriorly, conspicuously 

 marked out in its entire length by small black specks, one above and one below 

 every pore. On the tail the specks tend to fuse and form small solid blocks of black. 

 Some specimens show an extension of these lateral line specks to form faint cres- 

 centic marks as in A'", cayuga, but the crescents are always indistinct. Lower sur- 

 face of body pale. Head conical, 3 . 8 to 4 in body. Eye 2 . 6 to 3 in head. Mouth 

 almost terminal. Dorsal fin with 8 rays; anal with 8. Scales 4 or 5,37,3. 15 

 oblique rows in front of dorsal fin. Stomach and intestine 1 . 1 to 1 . 3 in length of 

 body. 



The food of this species seems to be of a most general kind, the intestine con- 

 taining plankton entomostraca, minute insects, and blue green or green algae, 

 usually mixed with ingested sand-grains. Females heavy with eggs are common 

 during the first two weeks of June. 



Notropis hudsonius, DeWitt Clinton. 



(Spot-tailed minnow) 



{Plate II, fig. 12) 



This species appears in small numbers in collections from Go Home Bay, 

 Giant's Tomb Island, Sans Souci and Pte. au Baril, but on the whole is seldom 

 taken. It appears to prefer solid-bottom swamps or shores such as are more char- 

 acteristic of sedimentary regions. The fish is easily recognized by the pale or sil- 

 very coloration of the sides combined with the very conspicuous jet-black caudal 

 spot. 



Length 2| inches. Body rather stout and laterally compressed, unlike other 

 species of Notropis of the region, except N. cornutus, in this respect. Depth 4 . 2 



