I 



SYNOPSIS OF THE CYPRINIDiE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



371 



HYPSILEPIS KENTUKIENSIS, Rafinesqm. 



Leuciscus Kentukiensis, Kirt., Bost. Journ. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1845, 27. 

 Oyprinella do., Cope, Proc. Acad., Phila., 1854, 279. j 



Oyprmella anqlostana, Girard, Proc. Acad., Phila., 1859, 58; Cope, 1. c. 



The dorsal and ventral outlines arc regularly and gently arched from the end of the muzzle and contract to a 

 caudal peduncle of about the depth of the head at the middle of the orbit. The dorsal region is quite compressed, 

 the ventral narrow but not oarinate in front of the vent. Eye round, contained 4.5 times in length of head, and 

 1.5 in length of muzzle; the latter is narrow and projects slightly beyond the mouth, most so in males in breeding 

 season. Oral margin arched, end of maxilla opposite middle of nares. The greatest depth of the body is greater 

 than the length of the head, and enters the total (including caudal (in) four and one-fifth times. Tail short, 

 deeply and concavely emarginatc. Anal fin less developed than dorsal, its base nearly equal height of first ray, 

 and just exceeding base of dorsal ; latter a little over two-thirds greatest elevation of the same. 



General color leaden silvery, darkest on the sides; the scales above and below, a dorsal band and large spot on 

 hinder part of dorsal fin, blackish ; top of head and median margin of anal fin shaded with the same. In spring 

 and summer the inferior fins, and even the tip of the caudal, and anterior part of the dorsal, arc filled with a satin- 

 whito pigment, which has a very elegant effect, and gives the fish its local name of " Silver Fin." At the same 

 period the head and muzzle of the male are studded with small tubercles, as follows: a conic accumulation on the 

 end of the muzzle, prolonging it; a series round the mandible, also over tin: orbit from an agglomeration on the 

 preorbital bone; a double series of larger tubercles on each side the frontal region, which join between the nares 

 and on the parietal region; scattered series on the temporal region. 



Total length 8.375 inches; caudal .5; from its base to first ray of anal 1 in.; to first dorsal ray 1.44 in.; from 

 latter to end of muzzle 1.56. 



This species is abundant in the various tributaries of the Ohio ; it is also common in all 

 the waters of the Susquehanna examined (Octorara, Conestoga, Juniata, Meshopen), and 

 in the Potomac (Girard) ; from the Delaware; I know it from the neighborhood of Tren- 

 ton (C. C. Abbott), and Philadelphia (J. Burk), and Conshohocken, on the Schuylkill. 

 During the seventh month of the present year I watched a company of them, with a 

 greater number of the Hybopsis procne, clearing out with pectoral fins and muzzle, a 

 sandy basin between two roots of a stump standing in the Conestoga Creek. They were 

 excessively active, suddenly turning from their employment and staling off in streaming 

 columns, when the silver-white of their fins had a pleasing and peculiar effect in the even- 

 ing light. As we approached, a Tropidonotus sipedo s warn off with a luckless Hybopsis 

 across his mouth, but soon returned to watch alternately ourselves, and the busy thron"-. 

 Approaching cautiously, he struck right and left below the surface, as the minnows passed 

 him, but often fell short, till a hungry Aromochelys odoratus, having the haste and move- 



