858 FISHES — CYPEINID^. 



BhinioMhi/s luvatua, Cope, Proo. Phil. Acad. Soi., 1864, 278; Journ. PMla. Acad. Soi., 



1869, 228.— Jordan, Ind. Geol. Survey, 1874, 223 ; Man. Vert., 281. 

 Argyreua lunatus. Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, 1870. 



Desoripiion — Body moderately elongate, little compressed; head moderate, rather 

 broad and flattened above ; snout moderate ; mouth small, horizontal, subtermiual, the 

 lower jaw included I barbel minute, but probably always present; upper lip on the 

 level of the lower part of the pupil; maxillary not reaching nearly to the eye; eye 

 small, nearly median, one and one-half in snout, fjur and one-half in head ; fins rather 

 small ; dorsal fin well back ; scales quite small, somewhat imbedded ; lateral line 

 deourved; color blackish above, some of the scales irregularly daiker; a black band 

 passing from the snout through eye and along the sides of the body ; a pale streak below 

 this ; belly silvery ; males in spring with the lateral bands and the lower fins, and some- 

 times the whole body bright crimson ; males in later summer with the lateral band 

 scarlet or orange, the red color growing fainter later in the season ; head 4 ; depth 4^ ; 

 D. 7 ; A. 7 ; lat. 1. 64 ; teeth 2, 4-4, 2. Length 3 inches. 



Var. oitusKS (Ag.) a southwestern form may be thus characterized: 



Very similar to R. atronaaua, but usually rather stouter, the head a little shorter, and 

 the coloration somewhat different ; back olivaceous, mottled with darker ; sides with 

 a rather faint brownish band margined above and below with paler ; belly silvery ; a 

 dusky blotch in ihe middle of the base of the dorsal fin ; males with the pectoral fins en- 

 larged, and with the lateral band rosy ; head 4 ; depth 4^ ; D. 7 ; A. 7 ; scales 14 63-8 ; 

 teeth 2, 4-4, 2. Length 3 inches. 



Habitat, New England to Alabama. Var. atronasus in the region from Cleveland east- 

 ward to Maine and Virginia. Var, obtnaus in the Upper Lake Region, Ohio Valley and 

 southward to Georgia and Alabama. 



Diagnosis. — This species may be known by its small scales and dark 

 colors in connection with the position of the mouth. Its shorter snout 

 distinguishes it at once from the preceding. 



Habits. — This species is one peculiar to the clear small brooks and 

 spring runs. In suitable localities it is excessively abundant. It is a 

 very swift and active fish, and the males in spring and summer are 

 brilliantly colored. 



Genus 33. EEIMYSTAX. Jordan. 



Erimyatax, Jordan (nova). 

 Type, Leadacua disaimilia, Kirtland. 

 Etymology, eri, an intensive particle ; mustax, barbel (moustache). 



Body elongate ; mouth inferior, with the lips somewhat thickened ; a well developed 

 barbel at the posterior end of the maxillary; teeth 4-4, hooked, with narrow grinding 

 snrface; scales rather large ; lateral line continuous; dorsal fin in advance of ventrals ; 

 anal basis short ; size medium. A single species known, in coloration and habits bear- 

 ing some resemblance to the Etheostomoid fishes. 



