HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 283 



LEUCOSOMUS AMERICANUS, Girard. 



The Shiner. 

 (PLATE XXI. FIG. 2.) 



Cyprinus Americanus, LACEP., v. pi. 15, fig. 3. 



" " American Carp, SHAW, Gen. Z<xil., v. p. 204. 



Cyprinus chrysoleucas, New York Shiner, MITCH., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., i. p. 459. 

 Leitciscus chrysoleucas, STOKEE, Report, p. 88. 



Stilbe chrysoleucas, New York Shiner, DEKAT, Report, p. 204, pi. 29, fig. 91. 

 Leuciscus Boscii, L'Able de Base, Cuv. et VAL., Hist. Nat. Poiss., xvn. p. 313. 

 Leuciscus Americanus, STOREK, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 408. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 156. 



Leucosomus chrysoleucas, HECK., in Russegger's Reise, n. p. 1042. 

 Leucosomus Americanus, GIRAED, in Lit. 



Color. General color of the back and upper part of sides greenish. Scales with 

 golden reflections ; lower portion of sides golden. Abdomen, yellowish-white ; opercles 

 golden. Pectorals reddish-yellow. Ventrals and anal red, tinged with black. Dorsal 

 and caudal yellowish-brown. Pupils black, irides golden. 



Description. Body very much compressed ; its greatest depth rather less than one 

 fourth its entire length ; the length of the head equal to about one sixth the length of 

 the body. Head naked, above somewhat depressed. Eyes circular, their diameter 

 equal to one fourth the length of the head. 



The lateral line, consisting of about fifty-six scales, commences just back of the supe- 

 rior angle of the operculum, and, passing obliquely down over about eighteen scales, 

 opposite the posterior extremity of the pectoral fins very gradually passes up again 

 towards the posterior extremity of the body, assuming nearly a straight course, which 

 is pursued to the middle of the caudal rays. 



The dorsal fin, which is situated upon the middle of the dorsum, is triangular 

 and partly shuts into a groove at its base when not expanded. The first two rays are 

 simple, the remainder multifid. The first ray is very short ; the second is as long as 

 the head. 



The pectorals commence at the posterior inferior angle of the operculum ; they 

 are less high than the dorsal. 



The ventrals are fan-shaped, and their rays are multifid. 



The anal is quadrangular, and commences on a line opposite the termination of 

 the base of the dorsal ; it is emarginated above. Its first three rays are simple. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 9. P. 17. V. 9. A. 13 - 16. C. 19 - 22. 



Length, seven inches. 



