210 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



THE BLACK-HEADED DACE. 



Leuciscus athomaculatus. 

 plate xxxii. fig. 102 — (state collection.) 



The Miid-fish, Cyprimis atromaculatus. MiTCHILL, Am. Month. Magaziire, Vol. 2, p. 324. 



Characteristics. Back anterior to the dorsal, with a depression in the vertebral line. Lips 

 fleshy. A dusky longitudinal band. Length six to twelve inches. 



Description. Body cylindrical, tapering, subcompressed. Scales large, suborbicular, with 

 radiating and concentric strias. Lateral line distinct, arising from the upper angle of the opercle, 

 curving downward to the twelfth row of scales, then slightly rising under the middle of the 

 dorsal fin, and going off straight. The anterior portion of the back flattened, with a depression 

 in the centre, extending nearly to the dorsal fin. Head sloping, smooth and scaleless. A 

 series of mucous pores over each eye, extending to the nape ; this is only apparent in the 

 larger individuals. Nostrils in a cavity ; the posterior large and patent ; the anterior nearly 

 closed by a valvular margin. Mouth terminal, very large. Lips somewhat fleshy, with a 

 very slight roughness on the jaws. 



The dorsal fin arises nearly in the centre of the body, quadrate, higher than long ; the 

 second, third and fourth longest. The pectorals are placed low down, and may be described 

 as low and pointed. Ventrals half an inch anterior to a line vertical from the origin of the 

 dorsal. Anal higher than long, arising two-tenths of an inch behind a line vertical from the 

 end of the dorsal. In this specimen, this fin was 0' 8 long. Caudal fin lunate. 



Color. Body above dark olive-green, with a broad darker longitudinal band extending from 

 the gill-covers to the tail. In the larger individuals, this color extends, as in atronasus, 

 through the eyes, and to the tip of the snout. Flanks of golden yellow. Beneath silvery 

 white. Head deep brownish black. Gill-covers cupreous, with metallic reflections. The 

 black color of the head descends down along the margin of the gill-cover, to the base of the 

 pectoral. Eyes black, surrounded by a golden ring. Dorsal fin with a dark spot at the ante- 

 rior portion of its base. Pectorals, ventrals and anal with a light orange tint. 



Length, lO'O; of the head, TS. Depth, r2. 

 Fin rays, D. 9 ; P. 15 ; V. 8 ; A. 9 ; C. 18 |. 



This species is very common in the lakes in the northern counties of the State, and varies 

 much in size. They are popularly termed Lake Chub and Lake Dace. I refer this, notwith- 

 standing the discrepancies in the enumeration of the fin rays, to the Mud-fish of Dr. Mitchill, 

 which he describes from the Walkill. His specimens were six inches long. 



