NATURAL HISTORY, TORONTO REGION 



four pounds, but they were exceptional; from one 

 and a half to two being about the average size of the 

 spring run of Suckers. 



9. Common Mullet. Red-horse. Moxostoma aureo- 

 lum (Lesueur). This is the handsomest and best of 

 all the Sucker family. It was formerly an abundant 

 spring visitor to the Humber and Don Rivers, but 

 owing to persistent netting during the spawning sea- 

 son it is now very seldom seen. In the early spring, 

 as soon as the ice moves out, Mullet run up the 

 streams to spawn, forcing their way through the 

 swiftest torrents in order to reach the gravelly beds, 

 upon which the ova are deposited. After spawning 

 they retire to deep water. While in the streams they 

 will readily take worm bait, and as they frequently 

 attain a weight of four or five pounds they afford 

 good sport in the waters they frequent. 



CTPRINIDAE. (The Carps.) 



10. Creek Chub. Horned Dace. Semotilus atro- 

 maculatus (Mitchill). This species sometimes at- 

 tains a length of twelve inches ; it is very abundant 

 and generally distributed in all the streams of this 

 vicinity. As a food fish it does not take high rank, 

 though it affords a great deal of sport for rural school- 

 boys. It spawns in early summer on the stony shal- 

 lows in the streams it frequents. 



11. Red-sided Shiner. Leuciscus elongatus (Kirt- 

 land). This beautiful little fish is found in most of 

 the streams having a muddy bottom. 



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