360 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



moderate, about equal.to muzzle ; scales closely imbricated, crowded 

 anteriorly, about 30 before dorsal. Dorsal fin high, inserted about 

 midway between ventrals and anal ; pectorals not reaching ventrals, 

 the latter to vent; caudal fin long. Coloration, dark steel blue 

 above, pale or silvery below; a more or less evident black spot at 

 base of dorsal in front ; the fins otherwise all plain ; males with the 

 anterior dorsal region and the head profusely covered with small 

 whitish tubercles, the belly and lower fins being of a bright brick 

 red in the spring; females very pale olive, sometimes almost color- 

 less. Length 3^ inches. 



The subspecies represented in the lake is lythrurus, which has 

 the body moderately elongate, the depth 4^ in length, the females 

 nearly 5 ; eye large, about 3| in head ; scales 9-47-3 ; dorsal with a 

 conspicuous black spot in front, rest of the fin mostly pale; no 

 anal spot. 



Cavern-jawed Minnow (Ericymba buccata) 



30. CAVERN-JAWED MINNOW 



ERICYMBA BUCCATA Cope 



This interesting little minnow, which appears never to have re- 

 ceived any distinctive vernacular name, is found from Pennsyl- 

 vania westward to Michigan and Kansas and south to Florida. In 

 some streams, notably in central Indiana, it is abundant. It is a 

 stream fish, rarely, if ever, occurring in lakes. We have not found 

 it in Lake Maxinkuckee proper, but we have one specimen taken by 

 us September 11, 1906, in the outlet below Lost Lake near the site 

 of the old mill. It is known to occur in the Tippecanoe River at 

 Belong. We have also found it in the minnow buckets of anglers 

 at the lake. 



It may be readily known from any other minnow of the United 

 States by the cavernous structure of the head which shows par- 

 ticularly in the lower jaw which appears to be made up of a series 

 of rectangular cavities or compartments. 



