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The Chub Suckers (Hrimyzon sucetta), are small fish, never exceeding ten — 
inches in length, while the Spotted Sucker (Minyirema melanops), which re- — 
ceives its name from each scale having a blackish spot at its base, attains alength — 
of eighteen inches. 
Of the large-scaled Suckers the Redhorses or Mullets are much commoner ~ 
than the above. The most abundant species is Moxostoma awreolum, which 
reaches the size of two feet and upwards, and is distinguished by a yellowish 
brown colour and bright red fins, but there is also a silvery form (M. anisurwm) 
with a longer dorsal fin (D 15-18 instead of 13). : 
Closely allied to the Suckers are numerous small fresh-water fish known as 
Chub, Dace, Shiners, Minnows, etc., belonging to the family CYPRINID&, a family 
widely represented in the Old World as well, although the Suckers are charac- 
teristically North American. 
None of them are of any economical importance, except in so far as they 
furnish food for the larger fishes. Much remains to be learned about the geo- 
graphical distribution of the family in Ontario, it being a matter of considerable 
difficulty to distinguish the various species from each other. They differ from 
the Suckers in that the upper maxillary bone does not contribute to form the 
border of the mouth. The teeth on the lower pharyngeal bones furnish to 
naturalists the most convenient way ot recognizing the species. 
Of the numerous species the following may be noted: Pimephales notatus, 
the fat-head minnow; Notropis (Minnilus) megalops, the Red-fin or Dace, and 
N. atherinoides, the Rosy Minnow ; Hybopsis (Ceratichthys) dissvmilis, the 
Spotted Shiner ; Semotilus bullaris, the Fall-fish or Chub ; Phoavnus elongatus, 
the Red-Sided Shiner ; Votemigonus chrysoleucus, the Golden Shiner, and many 
others. 
Any description of these forms, sufficient to allow of their correct diagnosis, 
would transgress the limits of this report. Jordan’s Manual of the Vertebrates of 
North America gives tables facilitating the discrimination of the various species. 
In addition to these small Cyprinoids familiar as a group, but less known 
specifically, are two introduced genera which require some notice. One of these 
is the gold-fish, Carassius auratus, a native of China, and domesticated there for 
centuries. It is known everywhere as an aquarium fish, and varies very much 
both in form and colouration. The other is the Carp proper (Cyprinus carpio) 
also an Asiatic fish but valued and cultivated both in Europe and America as a. 
food-fish. Special reference will be made to its peculiarities hereafter, (p. 470). 
A second natural group of Physostomi is formed of the Moon-eyes, Herring 
and Shad, which have numerous fresh-water representatives, but are not so 
exclusively fresh-water in their habits as the preceding families. 
In all, the body is compressed and covered with silvery scales usually cyecloid 
and often deciduous. The premaxillaries are not protractile, and the maxillaries 
contribute to form the edge of the upper jaw. The anal fin is of considerable 
length although low, and the caudal much forked. 
The Moon-eyes are confined to the fresh waters of North America, and 
belong to a single genus Hyodon which gives its name to the family. The 
popular name is derived from the very large eyes, the scientific name from 
the strong teeth with which the tongue is armed. One of the most obvious dis- 
tinctions from the Herring family is that the teeth are crowded on every available — 
surface of support within the mouth. 
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