118 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Remarks. This species is very common in the ponds throughout the State. It is 

 seldom found in Boston market, although it is said to be a delicate fish for the table. 

 It is o-enerally used as bait for Pickerel, and is considered the best bait for that 



fish. 



Massachusetts, Storer. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. Ohio Kiver, Kirtland. 

 Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Cuvier. 



GENUS III. HYPSOLEPIS, Baikd, MS. 



Body rather short, compressed, much the deepest upon the middle of its length. 

 Head very large, sub-conical. Mouth of medium size and terminal ; no cirrhi nor 

 barbels of any kind. Jaws equal. Eyes large. Tail tapering. Caudal fin forked. 

 Body covered with very large scales, much higher than long. Lateral line running 

 beneath the middle of the flanks, very conspicuous from the head to the base of 

 caudal fin, and slightly bent downwards upon the abdomen. Dorsal and anal fins 

 without strong and spiny rays at their anterior margins. Insertion of ventrals beneath 

 the anterior margin of dorsal. Pharyngeal teeth disposed upon a double row ; 

 external row composed of a few teeth only. Skull twice as broad upon the occiput as 

 between the eyes. 



Hypsolepis cornutus, Girard. 

 The Red-fin. 

 (Plate XXI. Fig. 3.) 



Cyprinus comutus, Rcd-Jin,or Rough-head, Mitch., Amer. Month. Mag., n. p. 324. 

 Leuciscus cornutus, Red-Jin, Storer, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., it. p. 182. 



" " " " Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 409. 



" " " " Synopsis, p. 157. 



" " " Dekay, Report, p. 207, pi. 29, fig. 92. 



Hypsolepis comutus, Girard, in Lit. 



Color. Above, blackish-brown with metallic reflections. Sides brilliant, cupreous. 

 After death, the appearance of a broad longitudinal band upon sides. Dorsal and 

 caudal fins dark brown, sometimes mottled with darker color ; ventrals and pectorals 

 light-colored ; all the fins and the opercles margined with crimson. 



Description. Body cylindrical, quite deep anterior to dorsal fin. Greatest depth of 

 fish more than one fifth its entire length. Lateral line commences at the posterior 

 superior angle of operculum, and, curving downwards to posterior extremity of 



