PAPERS ON ZOOLOGY 137 



Moaoostoma aureolum (LeSiier), Common Redhorse. 



These fishes run up the Embarrass River in large num- 

 bers in the early spring, commonly in late March or early 

 April, probably impelled by the breeding instinct, but they 

 do not appear to spawn till much later, for females caught 

 and examined at this time do not have ova that are very 

 near maturity. Local fishermen say that they spawn about 

 May 1 and on riffles, where many of them are easily caught 

 by dragging clusters of hooks over the spawning beds. This 

 way of fishing is locally called "jigging." The Redhorse is 

 known to breed on riffles in other regions, Reighard ('14, 

 p. 100), Hay ('91, p. 185) and McCormick ('92, p. 15), 

 say that the Redhorse (very probably this species) spawns 

 at such places. Reigard('20, p. 19) describes in detail the 

 breeding of Common Redhorse near Ann Arbor, Michigan. 



Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque), Stone-roller. 



During the first warm days of early spring, usually in 

 March but sometimes as early as February, schools of 

 these minnows begin to move up small creeks in the 

 Charleston region. Large numbers sometimes collect in 

 pools below barriers, like small water falls, and over these 

 they endeavor to jump, frequently springing a foot or more 

 out of the water (Hankinson '10, p. 28 ) . Sometimes they go 

 to the extreme headwaters of these creeks where there is 

 barely enough water to cover them and where they may be 

 picked up easily by hand. They begin breeding in late 

 March or early April, often some weeks after the migra- 

 tions started, in water temperatures ranging from about 

 65° F.-80° F., according to my observations. The spawning 

 is usually over by the middle of May in this region; the 

 latest date recorded being May 31. The favorite breeding 

 area is swiftly flow^ing shallows over fine gravel above 

 riffles, rarely in them, with a convenient deep pool or over- 

 hanging bank for hasty retreat (Fig. 2). The fish are 

 usually very shy at this time, making it necessary for the 

 observer to approach very slowly and carefully, keeping 

 out of their sight as much as possible. 



The males dig pits in the gravel by pulling and pushing 

 away stones, and according to Crevecoeur ('08) by carry- 

 ing pebbles up stream and dropping them. The small pearl 

 organs that are numerous on the dorsal half of the body of 



