444 



The Chub Suckers (Erimyzon sucetta), are small fish, never exceeding ten 

 inches in length, while the Spotted Sucker {Minytrema melanops), which re- 

 ceives its name from each scale having a blackish spot at its base, attains a length 

 of eighteen inches. 



Of the large-scaled Suckers the Redhorses or Mullets are much commoner 

 than the above. The most abundant species is Moxostoma aureolum, which 

 reaches the size of two feet and upwards, and is distinguished by a yellowish 

 brown colour and bright red fins, but there is also a silvery form (M. anisuruirC) 

 with a longer dorsal fia (D 15-18 instead of 13). 



Closely allied to the Suckers are numerous small fresh-water fish known as 

 Chub, Dace, Shiners, Minnows, etc., belonging to the family Cyprinid^, a family 

 widely represented in the Old World as well, although the Suckers are charac- 

 teristically North American. 



None of them are of any economical importance, except in so far as they 

 furnish food for the larger fishes. Much remains to be learned about the geo- 

 graphical distribution of the family in Ontario, it being a matter of considerable 

 difficulty to distinguish the various species from each other. They difier from 

 the Suckers in that the upper maxillary bone does not contribute to form the 

 border of the mouth. The teeth on the lower pharyngeal bones furnish to 

 naturalists the most convenient way ot recognizing the species. 



Of the numerous species the following may be noted : Pimephales notatus, 

 the fat-head minnow ; Notropis (Minnilus) megalops, the Eed-fin or Dace, and 

 N'. atherinoides, the Rosy Minnow ; Hybopsis (Geratichthys) dissimilis, the 

 Spotted Shiner ; Semotilus bullaris, the Fall-fish or Chub ; Phoxinus elongatiis, 

 the Red-Sided Shiner ; Notemigonus chrysoleucus, the Golden Shiner, and many 

 others. 



^ Any description of these forms, sufficient to allow of their correct diagnosis, 

 would transgress the limits of this report. Jordan's Manual of the Vertebrates of 

 North America gives tables facilitating the discrimination of the various species. 



In addition to these small Cyprinoids familiar as a group, but less known 

 specifically, are two introduced genera which require some notice. One of these 

 is the goid-fish, Carassius auratus, a native of China, and domesticated there for 

 centuries. It is known everywhere as an aquarium fish, and varies very much 

 both in form and colouration. The other is the Carp proper {Cyprinus carpio) 

 also an Asiatic fish but valued and cultivated both in Europe and America as a 

 food-fish. Special reference will be made to its peculiarities hereafter, (p. 470). 



A second natural group of Physostomi is formed of the Moon-eyes, Herring 

 and Shad, which have numerous fresh-water representatives, but are not so 

 exclusively fresh-water in their habits as the preceding families. 



In all, the body is compressed and covered with silvery scales usually cycloid 

 and often deciduous. The preraaxillaries are not protractile, and the maxillaries 

 contribute to form the edge of the upper jaw. The anal fin is of considerable 

 length although low, and the caudal much forked. 



The Moon-eyes are confined to the fresh waters of North America, and 

 belong to a single genus Hyodon which gives its name to the family. The 

 popular name is derived from the very large eyes, the scientific name from 

 the strong teeth with which the tongue is armed. One of the most obvious dis- 

 tinctions from ^he Herring family is that the teeth are crowded on every available 

 surface of support within the mouth. 



