116 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



to the base of the caudal, where it ends in a black spot. The 

 belly and the space between the bands are bright silvery, re- 

 placed by scarlet red in breeding males, which have the same 

 color at the bases of the dorsal, caudal and anal fins. In the 

 hight of the breeding season the fins are bright yellow, and 

 the body is covered with small tubercles. According to Prof. 

 Cope the red-bellied minnow is not found in the I)elaware, but 

 it occurs in the Susquehanna and is common in the streams 

 of western Pennsylvania. It reaches a length of 3 inches, and 

 is similar in its habits to the stone roller, with which it asso- 

 ciates. It prefers clear streams, which have their origin in 

 springs. As an-aquarium fish this is scarcely excelled in beauty 

 and hardiness, and as a bait for the black bass it has few 

 superiors. 



Genus HYBOGNATHUS Agassiz 



Body elongate, somewhat compressed; mouth horizontal, the 

 jaws normal, sharp edged; lower jaw with a slight, hard pro- 

 tuberance in front; no barbel; upper jaw protractile; teeth 

 4-4, cultriform, with oblique grinding surface and little if any 

 hook; alimentary canal elongate, three to 10 times the length 

 of the body; peritoneum black; scales large; lateral line con- 

 tinuous; dorsal inserted before ventrals; anal basis short. 

 Size moderate. Sexual changes very slight, no red or black 

 pigment distinguishing the males in spring. Species numerous, 

 mostly southwestern, not well known. 



i 66 Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz 



Silvery Minnow 



Hybognathus nuchalis AGASSIZ, Am. Jour. Sei. Arts. 224, 1855; GUNTHER, 

 Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 184, 1868; JORDAN & GILBERT, Bull. 16, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. * 156, 1893; BEAN, Fishes Penna. 33, 1893; JORDAN & 

 EVERMANN, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 213, 1806. 



Hybognathus regius GIRARD, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 209, 1856; GUNTHER, 

 Cat. Fish. Brit Mus. VII, 185, 1868. 



Hybognathus osmerinus COPE, Proc. A.m. Phil. Soc. Phila. 466, 1870 (Raritan 

 river, N. J.). 



Body moderately stout and short, its greatest depth equaling 

 one fourth of the total length without the caudal, and the least 



