366 Roosczrlt Wild Life Annals 



were about of a size, near an inch long, and most of the others taken were decidedly 

 larger it is likely that they were yearlings, and that the eggs were probably laid in 

 the spring. No specimen with pearl organs or other external evidences of breeding 

 condition were taken by us. Bean ('03, p. 1 18) says this fish spawns in early spring. 



Habitat. The species appeared to be quite generally distributed in shallow 

 water during the summers when most of our collecting was done, but it was com- 

 mon in only a few places. These were Poddygut Bay, Fairchild Bay. .Shaw's Ba\-. 

 Lower South Bay, Three j\Iile Bay, Bernhard's Bay, Messenger Bay, Sylvan 

 Beach, and the creeks at Johnson's Bay and at Constantia. The small fish very 

 evidently preferred areas with much vegetation and were usually found over a 

 bottom having much humus. The larger ones were frequent both in such situations 

 and over sandy bottoms with little plant life. 



Distribution Records. Nos. 305, 314, 353, 622, Brew^erton; Xos. 116, 120. 

 121, 569, Big Bay; No. 86. Poddygut Bay: Nos. 483, 603, 604. Fairchild's Bay: 

 No. 605, Shaw's Bay; No. ^jy. Three Mile Bay; No. 77, Bullhead Bay; No. 90, 

 Maple Bay ; No. 453, Bernhard Bay ; No. 463, Potter Bay : No. ^Jj, Sylvan Beach : 

 No. 501, Lewis Point; No. 498, Messenger Bay; No. 90, Maple Bay; No. 611. 

 Lower South Bay ; No. 522, Frenchman's Island ; No. 529, Dunham's Island ; Nos. 

 75 and 76, Scriba Creek: Nos. 4270 and 4272, Sylvan Beach, September 9, 1927. 



Enemies and Disease. Fowler ('13, pp. 8-g) tells of two birds feeding upon 

 H. nuchalis regiiis, namely, the Loon (Gavia iinincr) and the common Tern 

 {Sterna hirundo). 



Economics. Bean ('03, p. 118) : "It is extensively used fur food along with 

 the Notropis hudsoniiis. the so-called 'smelt' or 'gudgeon.' It takes the hook very 

 freely during the spawning season." It is not a very good bait-minnow as it is not 

 hardy (Forbes and Richardson, '09. p. 115, and Ellis, '14, p. 44). Smith ('07, 

 p. 86), however, says it is a desirable bait for black bass and ])ercli. 



References. Bean, '03; Fowler, '08, '09, '13: Smith, '07. 



Hyborhynchus notatus ( Rafine.sque ). Blunt-noskd Mixxuw, Bii.i.uf.m) 

 ]\Iixxow, F.\T-HEAD C'licn. This is a common minnow locally known as "L'hub" 

 and frequently taken in the lake to be used as bait, but probably not often distin- 

 guished from the other kinds of minnows so used. It may be distinguished readily 

 from other Oneida Lake fishes by the following features : size small, usually less 

 than three inches in length and seldom as long as four inches; scales on the back 

 conspicuously finer than those on the rest of the body; a black spot at the base of 

 the dorsal fin in front, and one at the base of the caudal fin. 



Breedinc) Habits and Life History. Eggs of Blunt-nosed Minnnws arc ordi- 

 narily placed on flat lower surfaces of properly situated stones ; and the male fish 

 remains lieneath, guarding them. This attending male has the body highly pig- 

 mented and often appears black, and on his snout are conspicuous tubercles or pearl 

 organs. He is very bold, and if the stone be removed, he moves slowly about in 

 the vicinity and may be easily captured. We found eggs but once (No. 530) in 

 Oneida Lake, and these were on the under side of a small water-logged piece of 

 board on a small area of sandy bottom, in two feet of water, oflf Dunham's Island. 

 They were attended by a male three inches long, which was busy keeping away a 

 Tessellated Darter. The darter and the minnow were Imlh collected ( Xo. 530). 



