864 FISHES — CYPRINID^. 



Semotilns atromamulatus, Girard, Proc. Phil. Acad. Soi., 1856, 204 ; Pao. R. K. Kept., 1858, 



283.— Abbott, Am. Nat., April, 1870, 13. 

 Leucosomus airomaeulatus, Copb, Proc. Phila. Acad., 1861, 223. 

 Semotilus dorsalis, Eafinesque, Ich. Oh., 1820, 49. — Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, 1838, 160 ; 



Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iii, 184, 345.— Girard, Pao. E. R. Surv., 283. 

 Leuciscus dorsalis, Storbr, Synopsis, 411. 

 SemoHlua cephalus, Eafineequb, Ichthyologia Ohiensis, 1820, 49. — Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, 



169 ; Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iii, 1840, 345.— Girard, Pac. R. E. Surrey, 1858, 283. 

 Leuciscus cephalus, DbKay, Fishes of N. Y , 214, 1843.— Storbr, Synopsis, 409. 

 Leuciscus iris, Guv. and Val., xvii, 1844, 253. 



t Leuciscus rotengulm, Cvv. and Val., xvii, 1844, 318. — Storbr, Synopsis, 416. 

 Leuciscus atoreri. Gov. and Val,, xvii, 1844, 319. 

 Leuciscus pulchelloidei, Ayrks, Proo. Boat. Soo. Nat. Hist., iii, lo7. 



Leuciscus inorassatus, Girard, Proc. Phila. Acad. Soi., 1856, 190 ; Pac. E. E. Surv., 1858, 252. 

 Semotilus macrocephalus, Girard, Proc. Phila. Acad , 1856, 20 J. 

 Leucosomus maorocepTialus, Girard, Pac. E. R. Surv., 252. 



Leucosomus pallidus, Girard, Proo. Phila. Acad. Sci., 1856, ISO; Pac. E.E. Surv., 251. 

 Semotilus pallidus. Cope, Cyp. Penn., 363. 



Semotilus oorporalis, vnr. pallidus, Jordan, Man. Vert., 1876, 279. 



Semotilus speciosus, Girard, Proo. Phila. Acad. Sci., 1856, 204 ; Pac. R. R. Surv., 1858, 283. 

 Semotilus hammondi, Abbott, Proo. Phila. Acad. Sci., 1860, 474. 



Description. — Body stout, the dorsal outline arched in front of the dorsal, the body 

 tapering backwards from a point considerably in advance of the dorsal, so that the base 

 of that fln is oblique ; head large and heavy, broad and rounded above ; snout broad, 

 mouth broad, oblique, the lower jaw slightly included, the upper Up just below tie 

 level of the pupil, the maxillary barely reaching the front of the pupil; maxillary bar- 

 bel small, not evident in specimens of less than two or three inches in length ; eye rather 

 small about five in head ; scales small, considerably crowded and reduced anteriorly, 

 about thirty series ia front of the dorsal fin ; lateral line beginning at upper posterior 

 angle of the opercle, and considerably decurved ; fins small, the dorsal aljont midway 

 between ventrals and anal ; color dusky bluish above ; sides with a vague dusky band, 

 black in the young, disappearing in the adults ; belly creamy, rosy tinted in the males 

 in spring ; dorsal fin always with a conspicuous black spot at the base in front, which 

 is bordered with red in the male ; a dark vertebral line ; scales everywhere edged with 

 dark punctutations ; a dusky bar behind opercle ; males with the snout coarsely tuber- 

 cnlated in spring ; head 3$ ; depth 4 ; D. 7 ; A. 8 ; scales 9-58-6 (tho ^e in the lateral liae 

 varying from 52 to upwards of 65) ; teeth 2, 5-4, 2 ; length 10 inches. 



Habitat, Western Massachusetts to Dakota and South Georgia. 



Diagnosis. — But two of the Ohio Cyprinidse, possess- the characteristic 

 color mark of a black spot at the base of the dorsal in front. These are 

 Semotilus corporalis and Lythrurus diplasmius. These are in other respects 

 very different. In cases of doubt, the latter may be distinguished by the 

 greater number of rays (10 to 12) in the anal fin. 



Habits. — This species, the largest of the Cyprinidse of Ohio, abounds in 

 every brook, bayou or clear pond in the State. It takes the hook 

 readily, and makes fair food if fried crisp without delay. 



