61 



Hyhoffnathus uHJiiht (Forbes). 



A small fish; in apiu';irance very much like .Vo/m/'is Itcterodon, the similarity extending to 

 the form of the head, liody, and tins, and tlie blaek stripe on the side which passes through 

 the eye and around the snout. The ed^e of the lower jaw is hard and sharp and has a percep- 

 tible tubercle on its upper side at the tip. Lenfi:th rarely greater than 2 inches ito base of 

 caudal tin.) 



We have collections of this species from the Ohio river at Cairo, from the neighborhood 

 of Peoria, ard from Galena, Carmi and Henry. 



Pimephdlex jiramdax (Ratines(]ue).^Hlack-head; Minnow; Fat-head. 



A short thick lish with very blunt head. The males in spring very dark in color, and with 

 two rows of large tuliercules around the snout. Differs from /'. no/atus in the thicker body 

 and in the incompleteness of the lateral line. 



Distributed throutrh the Mississippi, Kock, Illinois and Kaskaskia basins, usually in the 

 deep holes of small sluggish creeks; also found in the small creeks of Coles county, in the 

 Wa bash basin. Taken, in all, from 64 localities. 



PhiU'plKth'N iii)t(ttiis (Ilafinesque). — IJlunt-nosed Minnow. 



Differs from /'.j"n)W('/(?j' in having a rather slender body with the lateral line complete; 

 tuberculations and colors not so noticeable as in tlie preceding. 



Very abundant thronghut the State, occurring in 3.38 of our collections. In the eastern 

 Wabash basin so abundant as to be a nuisance to the collector. Not so numerous in the larger 

 streams. „asi-^^ 



■ AA. — Shokt-inte.stined Mixxows. 



Semotilus atnonacjilatus (Mitchill.) — Horned Faced: Creek Chnb. 



A large fat minnow, reaching 10 inches in length. The fine scales cm the forward part 

 of the body, the large mouth, and the small barbel on the upper lip near the comer of the 

 mouth, serve usually to distinguish it. It is an active swimmer, feeding on insect larvae, 

 worms and small fishes. It is provided with a powerful set of pharyngeal teeth. One of our 

 best bait minnows; easily taken in creeks. 



Abundant in streams of smaller size throughout the State. Rarely taken in lakes or 

 sloughs connected with the Illinois river. Occurs in 149 of our collections. 



Opsopa'odus cmilid' (Hay). 



The validity of this species is frequently ciuestioned. It differs fiom O. inegalops m the 

 complete lateral line and the black spot on the anterior rays of the dorsal. 



Specimens identified as this species occur in collections from the Illinois river at Havana, 

 the Big and Little Fox rivers in White county, and from French creek at Grayville. 



Opsopcvinlus maidlopx (Forbe-s). (l.^Sb) 



A fish with a very small upturned mouth, a black spot on the posterior rays of the dorsal 

 and an incomplete lateral line Delicate lines of black mark the edges of the scales. 



Occurs in 67 collections, mainly from the Illinois river and from the streams of south- 

 eastern Illinois. Also found at Urbana and near Galena. Never abundant, but found only 

 sparingly, usually in water of moderate depth, with muddy bottom. 



Ahrami-s crysolencas (Mitchill). — Golden Shiner: Roach; Bream. (1.59) 



This fish is distinguished from all other minnows by the keel on the belly behind the 

 ventral fins. The body is compressed to a thickness of about one-fifth to one-sixth of the 

 depth. Mouth much upturned; scales large and rounded on their posterior borders: 1.3 rays 

 in anal. 



Found in still water in all parts of the State. Not abundant in collections from the Rock 

 river basin. Occurs in 2.57 of our collections. 



Cliola vifiUd.v (Uaird I'c Girard). — Fat-head. 



This minnow approaches Fnuephaics in the fine scales before the dorsal, in the general 

 form of the body, and in not having the first ray adnate to the second of the dorsal, while it 

 differs in having a long intestine and a pale peritoneum. In separating tliis species from 

 /^. wo/rt^jw we have found that we can usually depend upon tlie paler color and more obtuse 

 head of Cliola. The black spot at the base of the caudal is also usually more distinct than in 

 P. no/atus. As in the latter, there is a black spot on the first rays of the dorsal in this species. 



Found in 170 collections, made throughout the State, with the exception of the Lake 

 Michigan region. Not abundant in the Rock river basin. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF TIIE GENUS NOTROIMS FOIND IN ILLINOIS. 



Borly neither stout nor mncli compressed; small cylindrical fusiform fishes not more 

 than 2'.. inches in length; depth not moie than Vi of length. 



b. A black stripe around snout, through eye and on side to base of caudal. 



c. No black on lower jaw; cliin white N. CAYCGA. 



cc. Month more oblique: lov.-er jaw with some black. 



d. Mouth very small; lower jaw included N. .vnogenus. 



