FISH OF ONTARIO. 45 



or wanting. The dorsal origin is nearer to root of caudal than to tip of 

 snout ; caudal small and not deeply forked. The lateral line curves down 

 over the pectoral, soon becoming- median. Scales, 10-56 10-63-10. Teeth, 

 2, 4-4, 2, three of the principal row strongly hooked. D. 11., 6 or 7; A. 

 II., 6; v., 8; P., 11. 



Colour dusky blackish, mottled above, whitish below, a black lateral 

 band, bordered above and below by pale. Spring males have the lateral 

 band and ventral fins crimson or orange. In some adult specimens I have 

 the dark lateral band is entirely wanting. Dr. Philip Cox, of New Bruns- 

 wick, who finds both this and the preceding species in that Province, says : 

 "These two species are with us Aery closely related and present at all 

 times such instability of characters as to suggest intergrading. " Length, 

 about three inches. 



Very common in all streams of the Lower Lakes and St. Lawrence 

 region. In the L'pper Lake region it is represented by R. a. obtusus. 



Genus HVBOPSIS. (Horxy-heads.) 



Body robust or variously elongate ; mouth terminal or inferior, with 

 lips thin or somewhat fleshy, a conspicuous barbel always present and 

 terminal on the maxillary ; a second barbel sometimes present on each 

 side; premaxillaries protractile. Teeth 4-4 or i, 4-4, i, or o; hooked, the 

 grinding surface narrow or obsolete. Scales usually rather large; lateral 

 line continuous. Dorsal inserted over, in front of, or slightly behind 

 ventrals ; anal basis short. Males usually with nuptial tubercles, and 

 sometimes flushed with red. A large and varied group closely allied to 

 Notropis, from which it differs chiefly in the presence of the small maxil- 

 lary barbel. 



SuBGENi s ERIMYSTAX. 



(51) Spotted Shiner. 



(Hybopsis dissimilis.) 



Body long and slender, caudal peduncle long and low ; head long, 

 snout obtusely rounded at the point ; projecting beyond the small mouth. 

 The gill openings are separated by a broad isthmus. Caudal moderately 

 large and deeply forked. Barbels conspicuous. Scales, 6-43 to 47-5. 

 Teeth, 4-4, hooked and with a short grinding surface. D. II., 8; .\. II., 

 6; v., 7; P., 15. 



Colour, above olivaceous, below silvery, the lateral band is dusky, on 

 which are several dark spots ; the band is carried forward through the eye 

 and around the snout; fins pale. Length, about six inches. 



This species occurs in the Lower Lakes and rivers falling into them. 

 It is probably more abundant in Lake Erie than elsewhere. 



.5 F. 



