114 
Aquatic Lite 
The Copper-stripe Dace 
WILLIAM T. INNES 
Notropis chrosomus was discovered by 
Jordan in 1876, and is a desirable inhab- 
itant of the cold water aquarium. It 
was found in Georgia, and is common 
in clear brooks and outlets of springs 
throughout the drainage of the Alabama 
Basin. A closely related species, Notro- 
pis metallicus, is so similar that it 1s dif- 
Notropis chrosomus 
Drawing by Henry W. Fowler 
ficult for the amateur ichthyologist to 
distinguish one from the other. When 
the identification of any fish is in doubt, 
it is much the best plan to submit speci- 
mens to a competent ichthyologist. Er- 
roneous identifications are veritable 
weeds to the scientific worker, who is 
thus put to great unnecessary labor in 
running down false trails. 
The following description is taken 
trom the words of Jordan. ‘The origi- 
nal or type specimen is in the collection 
of The Academy of Natural Sciences, 
Philadelphia. 
Notropis chrosmus Head 4; depth 
Ag? ID) (se uN 10s Seales, As soa leyeerrell 
line to caudal base, and two more on 
later ; 7 scales above lateral line; 4 scales 
below lateral line; 22 scales before do- 
rsal; snout, 3 1-3 in head; eye, 3% ; max- 
illary, 27%; interorbital, 24-5. Body 
elongate, well compressed, rather slend- 
er. Head moderate, compressed. Snout 
convex, slightly abrupt in front, length 
4-5 of its width. Eye rounded, mouth 
inclined, rather large; lower jaw slightly 
protruding and upper protractile; max- 
illary reaches eye; interorbital rather 
evenly convex. Scales rather small and 
well exposed. Lateral line complete, de- 
curved. Insertion of dorsal midway 
between eye-centre and caudal base. 
Anal inserted about opposite last third 
of dorsal base. Caudal well forked. Pec- 
toral reaches 34 to ventral; latter insert- 
ed well before dorsal and reaches vent. 
Color hyaline—green with bluish tints. 
Belly silvery. Head above and vertebral 
line golden; light narrow scarlet streak 
from opercle above to caudal base, and 
below this a silvery line. Row of black 
dots along lateral line, forming into small 
distinct caudal spot. Scarlet bar across 
anal, caudal base and dorsal. Spring 
males with muzzle and top of head tuber- 
culate, and finer tubercles before dorsal. 
Length 2% inches. 
The writer kept six specimens for sev- 
eral months in water of moderate tem- 
perature. Their active habits and gentle 
nature, combined with attractive color- 
ing of the fins and the copper and dark 
stripes along the sides, make them a de- 
lightful aquarium fish. 
ihe tact ofetheim conned nonstlie 
South led aquarists at first to treat them 
as a tropical fish. Under these condi- 
tions they died rapidly. Since it has be- 
come known that they inhabit cool, 
spring-fed brooks, we now keep them in 
moderate to cool aquaria, where they do 
well, particularly with aeration. 
ee 
To better handle their constantly in- 
creasing business, the Aquarium Stock 
Company, breeders and dealers in fishes 
and other supphes for the aquarian, have 
removed to larger quarters at 273 Green- 
wich street, New York City. 
have written that 
a preparation to 
Several readers 
Schaeffer's “Magic,” 
promote cultures of infusorians, is quite 
true to its name. 
