122 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Argyeeus atroxasus, Heck. 



The Black-nosed Dace. 

 (Plate XXI. Fig. 4.) 



Cyprinus alronasus, Brook 'Minnow, Mucn., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 460. 



" " Black-nosed Dace, Dekat, Report, p. 205, pi. 33, fig. 69. 



Leuciscus alronasus, I! Able a Ne.z noir, Cuv. et Val., Hist. Nat. des Poiss., svn. p. 376, pi. 



« " Stoeee, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 408. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 156. 



Rhinichthijs alronasus, Agassiz, Lake Sup., p. 354. 

 Argyreus alronasus, Heck., in Russ. Reise, II. p. 1040. 



" " Gibaed, in Lit. 



Argyreus rubripinnis, Mus. Par. fide Heck, in Russ. Reise, n. p. 1040. 



Color. Above, of a reddish brown ; abdomen of a silvery white with minute brown 

 blotches. A broad black band, commencing at the snout, passes through the eyes 

 along the whole length of the fish and is lost upon the caudal fin. A narrow lighter 

 line arises at the operculum and runs along the upper edge of the former. Pupils 

 black. Irides golden. The dorsal and caudal fins are of a dark-brown color. The 

 anal is nearly colorless. The pectorals are orange. 



Description. Body oblong, tapering to the tail. The greatest depth of this species 

 is equal to the length of the head. Head flattened above ; the length of the head is 

 equal to about one sixth the entire length of the fish. The eyes are moderate. The 

 nostrils are large. The upper jaw projecting. 



The dorsal fin, which is situated upon the middle of the dorsum, is subquadrangular 

 and emarginated above. 



The fan-shaped pectorals are situated just beneath the posterior angle of the oper- 

 culum. 



The ventrals are very delicate. 



The caudal fin is deeply forked. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 8. P. 14. V. 8. C. 19. 



Length of fish three inches. 



Remarks. This pretty little species, which seldom if ever exceeds three inches, is 

 found in many of our rivers. 



Massachusetts, Storer. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



