CYPRINIDjE. 



171 



rately curved, forming an irregular semicircle. The pectoral fin has 

 its origin immediately behind the edge of the suboperculum. The 

 origin of the dorsal is midway between the snout and origin of the 

 caudal fin, and the ventrals vertically under it. The caudal fin is 

 powerful and lunated. The -dorsal rays are ten in number, the 

 pectoral sixteen, ventral nine, anal eleven, and caudal nineteen. This 

 little fish is gregarious, swimming in shoals, and feeding on worms 

 and herbs. It is admirable as a bait for Pike, and for the larger va- 

 rieties of Pearch and River Bass, being, I think, preferred by them 

 to any other fish, as the Parr is by the Sea Salmon, and the larger 

 species of lake and sea Trout. The Chub and Dace are also good 

 for the same purpose, but inferior to the Roach. As sporting fish it 

 would be a loss of time to describe them at length. The American 

 Chub never exceeds ten inches. 



* NOTE TO REVISED EDITION. Since penning the above, 1 hear from some cor- 

 respondents that in many of the Eastern waters they grow to a much larger size ; 

 my views are, however, those of Agassiz, DeKay, Smith, and Richardson. 



