862 FISHES — CYPRINID^. 



its family in the State, as it takes the hook readily and energetically 

 and it may be eaten when properly fried. The catching of this fish is 

 the principal excitement of the average " summer boarder" at many 

 places in the south and west. The male of this species, in the spring, 

 has the head extravagantly covered with tubercles, hence the name 

 " Horny -head." This species is less disposed to ascend small streams than 

 the " Horned Dace " (Semotilus corporalis), and is hence often called the 

 River Chub, the other being ihe Creek Chub. A fisherman of Rock Castle 

 River, in Kentucky, has told me that the young of this species makes the 

 best bait for the Black Bass, as " it will swim longer than any other 

 with a hook in its body." These are almost the identical words used by 

 Rafinesque, concerning his still unidentified " Indian Chubb," Luxilus 

 keniuckieneis. 



Genus 42. COUESIUS. Jordan. 



Couesins Joedan, Bnll. Hayden's Geol. Surv. Terr,, 1878. 

 Type, Leucosomus dimimilis, Girard. 

 Etymology, dedicated to Elliott Cones. 



Body elongate, month terminal, normal; a well developed barbel at the posterior 

 end of the maxillary; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, hooked, without masticatory surface; scales 

 rather small; lateral line continuous; dorsal fin over or slightly behind ventrals ; anal 

 basis short. This genus comprises four or Atb species, all of large size and northern 

 distribution. They resemble the species of Semotilus, but differ in dentition and in the 

 position of the barbel. 



83. CouEsius PR03THEMIUS (Cope) Jordan. 



Liake Cliub. 



Ceratichthys prosthemius, Cope, Trans. Am. Philos. Soo. Phila., 1866, 365 — Joedan, Man. 



Vert., 2d Ed., 1868, 307. 

 Ceratichthys plumheus, Guntheb, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., vii, 176 (probably not Golio 



plumbeus, Ag ). 



Description. — This fish is of the average size of Semotilus corporalis, but of a, much 

 more slender form ; the outline is fusiform, the head being small, and the muzzle broad 

 and abruptly descending ; back compressed medially ; first dorsal ray midway between 

 the end of the muzzle and the origin of the caudal, considerably longer than the first 

 ray of the anal, its base longer than the base of the anal ; ventrals opposite the first ray 

 of the dorsal, not reaching to the vent ; end of maxillary not reaching to opposite the 

 orbit ; mouth terminal, small ; muzzle obtuse ; isthmus narrow ; barbels well developed ; 

 head and upper part of body blackish ; a plumbeous band above the lateral line, white 

 below ; head 4 ; depth about 4 ; D. 8 ; A. 8 ; scales 11-63-8 ; teeth 2, 4-4, 2. Length six 

 or seven inches. 



Habitat, Great Lake region. 



