FISH OF ONTARIO. 45 



or wanting. The dorsal origin is nearer to root of caudal than to tip of 

 snout ; caudal small and not deeply forked. The lateral line curves down 

 over the pectoral, soon becoming- median. Scales, 10-56 to 63-10. Teeth, 

 2, 4-4, 2, three of the principal row strongly hooked. D. II., 6 or 7; A. 

 II., 6; v., 8; P., 11. 



Colour dusky blackish, mottled above, whitish below, a black lateral 

 band, bordered above and below by pale. Spring males have the lateral 

 band and ventral fins crimson or orange. In some adult specimens I have 

 the dark lateral band is entirely wanting. Dr. Philip Cox, of New Bruns- 

 wick, who finds both this and the preceding species in that Province, says : 

 "These two species are with us very closely related and present at all 

 times such instability of characters as to suggest intergrading. " Length^i 

 about three inches. 



V^ery common in all streams of the Lower Lakes and St. Lawrence 

 region. In the Upper Lake region it is represented by R. a. obtusus. 



Genus HYBOPSIS. (Horny-heads.) 



Body robust or variously elongate ; mouth terminal or inferior, with 

 lips thin or somewhat fleshy, a conspicuous barbel always present and 

 terminal on the maxillary ; a second barbel sometimes present on each 

 side; premaxillaries protractile. Teeth 4-4 or i, 4-4, i, or o; hooked, the 

 grinding surface narrow or obsolete. Scales usually rather large; lateral 

 line continuous. Dorsal inserted over, in front of, or slightly behind 

 ventrals ; anal basis short. Males usually with nuptial tubercles, and 

 sometimes flushed with red. A large and varied group closely allied to 

 Notropis, from which it differs chiefly in the presence of the small maxil- 

 lary barbel. 



SuBGENi's ERIMYSTAX. 



(51) Spotted Shiner. 



(Hvbopsis dissimilis.) 



Body long and slender, caudal peduncle long and low ; head long, 

 snout obtusely rounded at the point ; projecting beyond the small mouth. 

 The gill openings are separated by a broad isthmus. Caudal moderately 

 large and deeply forked. Barbels conspicuous. Scales, 6-43 to 47-5- 

 Teeth, 4-4, hooked and with a short grinding surface. D. II., 8; A. II., 

 6; v., 7; P., 15. 



Colour, above olivaceous, below silvery, the lateral band is dusky, on 

 which are several dark spots ; the band is carried forward through the eye 

 and around the snout ; fins pale. Length, about six inches. 



This species occurs in the Lower Lakes and rivers falling into them. 

 It is probably more abundant in Lake Erie than elsewhere. 



5 F. 



