90 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



This fish is taken at all seasons, even through the ice in 

 winter. It is seldom found in Boston market, but is generally 

 taken for pickerel bait, and is considered the best bait for that 

 fish. 



L. argenteus. Nobis. The silvery Leuciscus. 



By the name of '•' Dace,''^ this species, which I suppose to 

 be undescribed, is generally known in those portions of the 

 State where it is found. The specimen before me I received 

 from Worcester county. The following are its characters : 



Entire length of the specimen, six inches two lines ; depth 

 of the head, half an inch ; depth of the body across from the 

 origin of the dorsal fin, one inch one line. Body elongated, 

 but very slightly arched over the neck, and at the dorsal fin. 

 Whole surface of the body, silvery ; rather darker upon the 

 back ; head above, bluish ; operculum cupreous ; preoperculum 

 rather inclined to a flesh color ; exterior to the operculum, a 

 narrow dark band encircles the head, from the base of the pec- 

 torals, separating the head from the body. Scales on the body 

 moderate in size, — nine, in an oblique line, from the origin of 

 the dorsal to the lateral line ; and four in an oblique line be- 

 neath. Entire head destitute of scales ; head above, flattened ; 

 diameter of the eye, one quarter of an inch ; distance between 

 the eyes, half an inch. Nostrils double ; the anterior, circular ,• 

 the posterior, oblique and larger. Jaws toothless ; upper jaw the 

 longer. The lateral line commences on the side of the snout, 

 and passing back under the eyes, and up over the posterior an- 

 gle of the gill-covers, curves downwards for the extent of eight 

 scales, to opposite the middle of the pectorals, and then pur- 

 sues a straight course to the caudal rays. 



The Dorsal fin commences upon the anterior half of the 

 body, including the tail ; rays higher than long, color of the 

 back ; the first ray half as high as the second. 



The Pectorals commence beneath, and on a line with the 

 posterior angle of the operculum, elongated, lighter colored 



