Oi\ A SPECIES OF LOACH: MIS(frKNrs DECEMCIR- 

 ROSUS (BASILEWSKY) FROM NORTHERN CHINA. 



By Dayid Stark Jordan and John Ottkkhkin Snydkr, 



Of Stiivford riiiri'rxiti/, rulifnviiht. 



In a recent paper on the CW/mV/z/cT, or Loaches of Japan." Messrs. 

 Jordan and Fowler have described the common Japanese species of 

 Mixgurnus^ under the name of J/isc/tmrus anguiUlcaudatus (Cantor), 

 and have referred most of the nominal species of China to tlie syn- 

 onymy of this species. 



The examination of the specimens collected by Dr. Noah Fields 

 Drake, at Tientsin, recorded by Professor James F. Abbott, ^ shoAvs 

 that these belong- to a species quite different from the Japanese. This 

 seems to be the one described by Basilewsky from near Peking, nnder 

 the name of Cohitis deceineirroi^Ks. 



The original types of Cohitis (DKjuillu'audata Cantor came from 

 Chusan. These are in the British Museum where they have been 

 examined by Mr. C. Tate Regan. Mr. Regan writes: "'In three of 

 Cantor's specimens (130-140 mm.), I count 136 to 145 scales; longest 

 dorsal y^}\ about % length of head; length of head, about <>: length of 

 caudal peduncle, 6 to of times in that of the fish.'' 



These specimens agree in these respects with the ordinary Japanese 

 species, which has been described by Jordan and Fowler as J//V////vn^^ 

 anguilUcaudatus, and which seems to be entitled to this name. 



The two species before us may be thus distinguished: 



a. Scale relatively large, about 112 (105 to 118) in a lateral series; body plump, the 

 depth 6J to 6| in body; head, Q\ to 7i in length; barbels long, the longest 1| to 2| 

 in head; eye, 2 to 3 in snout; color, relatively plain, the stripes and spots not 



very distinct. Streams of northeastern China decemcirromg 1 



aa. Scales relatively small, about 148 (143 to 154) in lateral series; body slender, the 

 depth 61 to 8 in length; head, fij to 6\ in length; barbels short, the longest 31 to 

 41 in head; eye, 21 to 3 in snout; coloration rather l)righter, but very variable; 

 the body with dark lateral shades and more or less niunerous small black spots. 

 Streams of Japan, connnon everywhere in Hondo, Shikoku, and Kiusiu; also 

 in southeastern China, Chusan, Shanghai, etc angiiilllcaudaUis 2 



f'Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XX YI, 1903, i>P- "<^'> ^'> '■''-^• 

 bldem, XXIII, 1901, p. 483. 



Proceedings U.S. National Museum, Vol. XXX-No. 1474. 

 Proc. N. M. vol. XXX— Of) 5:? 



8:33 



