176 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



ABDOMINAL 

 MALACOPTEEYGII. 



MINNOWS. 



Hydrargyra ; Auctorum. 



THE Minnow proper of Europe, Cyprinus, Leuciscus, Phoxinus, is 

 unknown to the waters of North America, but as its equivalent, 

 and analogous to it, we have innumerable species of the Hydrar- 

 gyra, or American Minnow ; which, in general appearance, habits 

 and haunts, are very nearly assimilated to the European fish. 



Its food consists of aquatic plants, small worms, and minute portions 

 of any animal substances. It bites boldly and readily at small red 

 worms, gentles, or the larvae of any of the Phryganea, known as cad- 

 dis-baits, stick-baits, and the like, on the least Limerick hooks, num- 

 ber twelve ; and is constantly taken by boys with a worm alone tied 

 to a fine string, which the little fish swallows so greedily that he is 

 pulled out before he has time to disgorge it. 



Under many local names this beautiful little Cyprinns is found in 

 every swift-running stream with a gravelly bottom, and in the shallows 

 of every pond or lakelet throughout the country. They are generally 



