214 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



THE PIGMY DACE. 



Leuciscus pygm5;us. 

 plate xlii. fig. 134. — (state collection.) 



Characteristics. Very small. One or more black ocellate spots on the base of the oblong 

 pointed tail. Length one inch. 



Description. Body oblong, cylindrical ; abdomen somewhat prominent. Lateral line con- 

 current with the back. Scales soft, large in proportion to the size of the body, extending 

 over the cheeks, and to a line with the anterior margin of the orbits. Head flattened, the 

 facial line descending to the snout. Eyes large, and rather more than their diameters apart; 

 orbits prominent. Nostrils inconspicuous. Mouth small, edemtate ; lower jaw somewhat 

 longest. The dorsal fin long, emarginate, and over the ventrals and anal. Pectorals low 

 down, pointed, with excessively minute rays. Ventrals with six rays, ending in filiform points. 

 Anal coterminal with the dorsal. Caudal long, lanceolate. 



Color. Head and back uniform dark brown or black above, and lighter towards the abdo- 

 men ; reticulations of the scales darkish. Pupil black ; irides light-colored. On each side 

 of the tail a black spot, margined with white ; occasionally two of these spots on each side, 

 surrounded by a common ring. Rays of the vertical fins annulate with brown. 



Length, TO. 



Fin rays, U. 14 ; P. 16 ; V. 6 ; A. 13 . C. 17. 



The scaly head, long dorsal and filiform ventrals, evidently indicate a new form, distinct 

 from Leuciscus. In a general systema, it must be the type of a new genus. It is the smallest 

 of the American Cyprinidae, the above being of the largest size. It occurs in brooks near 

 Tappan, Rockland county, from whence it was obtained by Mr. John G. Bell. They are 

 very active, ascend high up the sources of the smallest streams, and are frequently left in 

 shallow pools dried up by the sun. 



{EXTRALIMITAL.) 



L. dongatus. (Kirtland, Host. Jour. Vol. 3, p. 339, pi. A, fig. 1.) Sky blue. Back edged below 

 with a golden band, which is margined beneath by an interrupted black stripe ; beneath this a 

 carmine stripe, ending opposite the ventrals. Length three inches. Tributaries of Lake Erie. 



L. dissimilis. (Id. lb. fig. 2.) Head fiat between the eyes ; nose prominent. Back brownish or olive. 

 A golden stripe along the lateral line, with about twelve bluish dots. With preceding. 



L. biguttatus. (Id. lb. pi. 5, fig. 1.) A large vermilion dot behind each eye. A black spot at the 

 base of the caudal. Allied to cornutus. Length six inches. Ohio. 



L. cephalus. Chub Big-head. (Id. lb. pi. 5, fig. 2.) Head often with spines. Silvery ; back brownish. 

 Dorsal with a large black spot at the anterior base. D. 9 ; A. 9. Length six to eight inches. 

 Ohio. 



