LAMPREYS AND FISHES OF INDIANA. 201 



Chrosomus erytheogaster Raf. 



Red-bellied Minnow. 



Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, 8, 153. 



Rather elongated, the head pointed. Depth iu the length equal to 

 head and from four to four and one half times in the length of the body. 

 Mouth terminal, somewhat oblique, small, the maxillary hardly reach- 

 ing back to the eye. Teeth usually 5-5. Dorsal rays seven, anal eight. 

 Pectorals short and broad, reaching the veutrals, which attain the vent. 

 Lateral line reaching backward about one-half the length of the body. 

 Scales small, 20-85-10. Colors brilliant. The belly is pale. From the 

 snout, through the eye, a broad black baud runs back to the tail. Above 

 this is another narrower band of black. The interspace is a stripe of sil- 

 very, or, in breeding males, <>f scarlet. The back is olive, with numer- 

 ous black spots, while the middle line is held by a narrow stripe of 

 brown. Base of tail with a black spot. The base of the vertical fins of 

 the males are scarlet, and the other fins bright yellow. Females plain. 

 Length three inches 



Pennsylvania to Dakota and southward. Indiana localities are : How- 

 ard County [23, '88, 46); Franklin County (^2'i, '8n, 57) ; Monroe County 

 (i, '85, 4lb) ; Marion County (1, '77, 377) ; Ohio River (10, '74, 223) ; 

 Lawrence County (JS, '84, 200); xMiarai County 0, '94, 36); Henry 

 County (2^, '93, 85). 



Dr. Kirtland states that the spawn of this species is deposited during 

 April and May on ripples. At this time their colors are most brilliant. 

 By the time of midsummer the colors fade so much that the carmine 

 tints are lost, and the black stripes become muddy brown. Jordan states 

 that this species is hardy and one of the most desirable for aquaria. 

 Forbes (1.^, No. 6, 80) says that 87 per cent, of the food consists of mud. 

 The remainder is vegetable matter and a few crustaceans. 



Genus HYBOGNATHUS Ag. 



Mouth terminal. Teeth 4-4; with or without hook, and with grind- 

 ing surface. Alimentary canal more than twice the length of the body. 

 Dorsal fin over the veutrals. Lateral line complete. Scales rather large. 

 Not more than fifteen in front of dorsal. Pseudobranchiie present. 



Suborbitals broad ; color silvery. nachalk, p 202. 



Suborbitals narrow; color plumbeous mibila, p. 202. 



