344 Roosevelt ]]"dd Life Annals 



References. Abbott, '/8, "84: Bean, '<jJ. 03; Fowler, '05, '09: Jordan and 

 Evermann, '96; Nichols and Gregory, '18. 



Notropis heterolepis (Eigenmann and Eigeimiann). Black-nose Shixer 

 OR Cayuga Minnow. This is one of the small minnows that has been variously 

 confused with similar forms under the name of Cayuga Minnow {Notropis 

 cayiiga). It is apparently scarce in the lake. 



Breeding and Life History. This is very ])rol)ably the species which Forbes 

 and Richardson ('09, p. 133) refer to as Notropis eayiiga. and state that females 

 near spawning were taken from June 5 to August i. 



Habitat. The three specimens taken in the Oneida Lake region were caught 

 near the mouth of a small tributary' stream of the lake. None was found in the 

 many collections made in the lake. Evermann and Clark found it exceedingly 

 abundant in the shallow shore waters of Lake Maxinkuckee in the fall ('20, 

 p. 285), and they describe a shoreward migration of this and other species at that 

 season. Forbes and Richardson ('09, p. 133) found "Notropis cayiiga." which 

 was very probably A'', heterolepis, most abundant in creeks in Illinois, but they 

 note its occurrence also in the glacial lakes of that state. 



Food. Few examinations of the food of this species have been made. Han- 

 kinson ('15, p. 147; '08, p. 205) found that alimentary tracts of Michigan Black- 

 nose Shiners contained Entomostraca, insects (including Chironomus larvae), 

 filamentous algae, and diatoms. Evermann and Clark ('20, p. 349) found various 

 species of Entomostraca and several different kinds of diatoms, in specimens from 

 Lost Lake, Indiana. 



Dr. Emmeline Moore ('22, p. 56) includes Cayuga Minnows among those that 

 ■characteristically feed on vegetable food, eating principally microscopic plants. 

 Details of the food of thirty-eight specimens are given in her table on page 53. 

 Plankton algae, filamentous algae and diatoms were eaten abundantly. Vascular 

 plants, protozoans, rotifers and entomostracans were also taken in important 

 amounts, and midge larvae and ephemerid nymphs in small amounts. Since Notropis 

 bifrenatus and A'^. heterolepis have been confused in the past in waters where they 

 occur together, as in Cayuga Lake (Hubbs, '26, p. 41), since A'', bifrenatus was 

 not recorded from Lake George by Sibley, ( '22 ) , and since Lake George is within 

 the range of this species, it seems probable that the data given by Dr. Moore 

 pertain to the food of both species. 



Distribution Records. Only three specimens ( Xo. 593 ) of this species were 

 recorded and these were taken near the ninulh (if a small stre-im tribnt;u-\- to 

 Oneida Lake. 



Economics and .ingling. Evermann ('01, p. 321) says: "It reaches a length 

 of but 2 or 3 inches, which .somewhat militates against its being of much value as 

 a bait minnow. But used singly for Yellow Perch or, with two or more on a 

 hook, for Yellow Pike, it is usually quite effective ; and .some anglers find the larger 

 ones very good for the smaller bass, particularly in still fishing for the Small- 

 mouthed Black Bass. For "N'cllow T'ercli. there is no better minnow, if the larger 

 ones are selected." 



References. I'.llis. 'i): i'.verni.nni. 'm ; h',verni;inn and Clark. '20: I>"(irbes and 



