SILVER- JAWED MINNOW. 855 



' 76. Ericymba buccata Cope. 



Silver-Janred Minnow. 



Ericymba iuceata, Copb, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci-. Phila., 18G5, 88. — Gukthkr, Cat. Fishes 

 Brit. Mas,, Tii.— Jordan, Man. Vert , 2d Ed., 299. 



Description. — Body fusiform, rather elongate, little compressed, the back not elevated ; 

 head rather long, somewhat depressed above, with broad and prominent mnzzle ; mouth 

 rather small, horizontal, snbinferior, the lower jaw considerably shorter than upper; 

 upper lip below I^'vel of pupil ; maxillary not reaching to eye; dentary bones dilated, 

 the mncous channels conspionous cross lines; opercle small; eye large, four in head; 

 fins small, dorsal over ventrals ; scales moderate, the lateral line nearly straight ; mid- 

 dle of the belly soaleless ; fifteen scales before dorsal ; color olivaeeons, rather pale ; 

 sides bright silver -with bluish reflections ; a dark dorsal streak, conspicuous posteriorly ; 

 fins plain; males withont tubercles or bright colors ; head 3 5-6 ; depth 5; D. 8; A. 8; 

 scales 5-33-3 ; teeth 1, 4-4, 0. Length 5 inches. 



Habitat, Ohio Valley. 



Diagnosis.-r-This species is known at once from all other minnows by 

 the cavernous condition of the bones of the lower jaw. 



Habits. — This graceful and interesting little fish is abundant in most 

 streams tributary to the Ohio. It prefers clear, gravelly or sandy streams, 

 and often ascends the small brooks. Most specimens seen are small. 

 The males do not undergo any special changes in color or form in the 

 breeding season. 



Genus 37. PHENACOBIUS. Cope. 



Phenaooiius, Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1867, 96. 

 Sarddium, Cope, Hayden's Geol. Surv., 1870, 1872, 440. 



Type, Phenacohius teretulua, Cope. 



Etymology, phenax, deception ; bios, life, the species having the appearance of herbiv- 

 orous minnows, but with the teeth and intestines of the carnivorous. 



Body elongate, subterete ; mouth small, inferior, -with thickened lips, the lip of the 

 lower jaw developed as a conspicuous lobe on either side, presenting a slight resemblance 

 to the lower j%w of ExoglosBum ; no barbels; premaxillaries protractile; dorsal fin in- 

 serted in advance of ventrals ; anal basis short ; intestinal canal not elongated, peri- 

 toneum pale ; teeth 4 4, hooked, without grinding surface ; scales rather small ; lateral 

 line continuous, Species of rather small size, bearing a considerable resemblance to 

 young suckers. Three or four species are known, mostly of southern distribution. 



77. Phenacobius teeetulds Cope. 



Phenaeobius ieretalus, Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Soi. Phila., 1867, 96. — Jordan, Man. Vert., 



2d Ed., 299. 

 Sarddium scopiferum, Cope, Hayden's Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872, 440 (probably same). 

 Phenacobius acopi/erus, Jordan, Man. Vert., 2d Ed , 1878, 299; Bull. Hayden's Geol. Surv. 



Terr., 1878; Bull. Ills State Lab. Nat. Hist., ii, 1878, 61. 

 Phenacobius teretulus, var. liosternus, Nelson, Bull. Ills. Mus. Nat. Hist., i, 1876, 46. 



